Methods and apparatus for providing wireless services to a customer premises

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for providing data services to devices at a customer premises. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: switching from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation with respect to providing data services to a user equipment device located at a customer premises upon detection of a first condition at the customer premises by a wireless base station; receiving, after switching into the second mode of operation, at the wireless base station a first data service request from the user equipment device; transmitting, in response to the first data service request, one or more data packets of a first data packet stream to the user equipment device via a first transmission path and transmitting one or more additional data packets of the first packet stream to the user equipment device via a second transmission path.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/729,246 which was filed on Dec. 27, 2019 and which is herebyexpressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providingwireless services to user equipment devices located at a customerpremises. More particularly, the present invention relates to methodsand apparatus for providing services, e.g., broadband services, tosubscribers or users located within a customer's premises through theuse of a plurality of different wireless communications paths, e.g., 5Gwireless communications and WiFi wireless communications. The presentinvention further relates to method and apparatus for managing, reducingand/or eliminating congestion at a customer premises. The presentinvention further relates to methods and apparatus for providingservices to customer premises equipment devices without the need for alandline connection to the customer premises in which the customerpremises equipment devices are located.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In instances where wireless networks are being used to provide broadbandservices to a customer premises, the capacity of the wireless connectionor link to the customer premises may not be the limiting factor butinstead congestion On links, connections or communications paths withinthe customer premises may become a bottleneck for providing services.For example, such problems occur in Citizens Broadband Radio Servicenetworks.

In a Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) network, Citizens BroadbandRadio Service Devices (CBSDs) serve as access points which can supportwireless communications with user equipment devices (UEs).

A CBRS network includes a plurality of CBSD devices. The CBSD devicesprovide wireless services to subscribers' user equipment devices.Spectrum is granted to each of the CBSDs using a centralized systemcalled the Spectrum Access System (SAS). The Spectrum Access System is acentral processing and database system that receives and processesspectrum grant requests. In the CBRS network, interference is managedthrough power management of CBSD devices by the Spectrum Access System(SAS). The SAS stores information regarding which CBSD uses how muchspectrum at which location in the CBRS network.

Many customer premises, e.g., homes do not have landline connections orlandline connections which can support broadband services. For example,in various geographical areas, e.g., rural areas of the country withsparse populations, it is not economical or practical to connectlandlines to all customer premises. In such areas, there is a need forproviding services, e.g., broadband services, to the customer premiseswhich do not have landline connections or do not have landlineconnections which can provide broadband services. Additionally, in urbanareas where landline connections can provide broadband servicescustomers may still desire to have services provided via wirelessconnections in place of or in addition to landline connections.

In CBRS systems wherein broadband services are provided to a pluralityof devices at the customer premises, e.g., user equipment devices, usinga customer premise equipment that provides WI-FI services at thecustomer premise equipment, customer premises communications links canbecome congested affecting the level and quality of service that may beprovided to the plurality of devices at the customer premises. While thedevices at the customer premises may have the capability to communicateusing different wireless paths there is currently a technologicalproblem of how to use multiple communications paths to send data to auser equipment device requesting the data.

From the above it should be understood that there is a need for newand/or improved methods and apparatus to provide wireless services,e.g., wireless broadband services, to subscribers or users locatedwithin a customer premises. There is a further need for new and/orimproved methods and apparatus for providing services to devices locatedat customer premises without a landline connection or a landlineconnection capable of providing broadband services and/or where alandline is not practicable or economical. Additionally, there is a needfor new and/or improved methods and apparatus for managing, reducingand/or eliminating bottleneck conditions which occur at a customerpremises. There is also a need for new and/or improved methods andapparatus to solve the technological problem of how to overcomecongestion problems when a customer premises does not have the linkcapacity to provide the requested services for a plurality of devices atthe customer premises. Moreover, there is a need for new and/or improvedmethods of providing additional resources, e.g., bandwidth, to customerpremises devices in addition to the landline and current wirelessmethods available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a technological solution of how toprovide wireless data services, e.g., broadband services to deviceslocated at a customer premises while minimizing and overcomingcongestion problems at the customer premises. The various embodimentsdescribed herein provide new and novel methods for efficiently andeffectively identifying, managing, reducing and/or eliminatingcongestion, e.g., link congestion, at a customer premises so that dataservices can be provided to subscribers and/or user equipment deviceslocated at the customer premises via wireless connections. Variousembodiments of the present invention include novel methods and apparatusto solve one or more of the problems identified above.

By using one or more of the techniques described herein a wireless basestation can provide services, e.g., broadband services, to deviceslocated at a customer's premises that does not include a landline forproviding broadband services such as internet access, media download,video on demand services, voice over internet protocol services, etc. aswell as managing resources within the customer premises to reduce and/oreliminate bottlenecks and/or congestion on the links or connectionswithin the customer's premises.

An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: (i) monitoring, bya wireless base station, for a first condition at a first customerpremises; (ii) switching, in response to detecting by a wireless basestation the first condition exists at the first customer premises, froma first mode of operation to a second mode of operation with respect toproviding data services to a user equipment device located at the firstcustomer premises; (iii) receiving, after switching into said secondmode of operation, at the wireless base station a first data servicerequest from a first user equipment device; and (iv) transmitting, inresponse to said first data service request, one or more data packets ofa first data packet stream to the first user equipment device via afirst transmission path and transmitting one or more additional datapackets of the first packet stream to the first user equipment devicevia a second transmission path.

In some embodiments, the first condition exists when a communicationslink in the first transmission path at the first customer premises isdetermined to be congested. In some embodiments, the step of detectingby a wireless base station the first condition exists at the firstcustomer premises includes receiving a first message from a customerpremise equipment device at the first customer premises indicating thatthere is a Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition.

In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of: monitoring, bythe customer premise equipment device, for a Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition, said monitoring for a Wi-Fi Access Point overload conditionincluding monitoring one or more Wi-Fi Access Point downlink buffers fora buffer overflow condition or a condition in which the number of datapackets in one or more Wi-Fi Access Point downlink buffers exceeds afirst threshold for a predetermined amount of time; detecting, by thecustomer premises equipment device, that a Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition exists with respect to a Wi-Fi Access Point when said customerpremise equipment device determines that the Wi-Fi Access Point downlinkbuffer corresponding to the Wi-Fi Access Point is experiencing a bufferoverflow condition or is experiencing a condition in which the number ofdata packets in the Wi-Fi Access Point downlink buffer corresponding tothe Wi-Fi Access Point exceeds the first threshold for the predeterminedamount of time; and when said Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition isdetected: (i) generating, by the customer premises equipment device, thefirst message indicating that there is a Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition; and (ii) communicating said Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition message to said wireless base station.

In some embodiments, the first transmission path includes: a firstwireless communications link (e.g., 5G, CBRS or cellular wirelesscommunication link) between the wireless base station and a customerpremises equipment device located at the first customers premises; afirst wired communications link between the customer premises equipmentdevice and a first Wi-Fi Access Point device; and a first Wi-Fi wirelesscommunications link between the first Wi-Fi Access Point device and thefirst user equipment device.

In some embodiments, the second transmission path is a second wirelesscommunications link (e.g., 5G, CBRS, or cellular wireless communicationlink) between the wireless base station and the first user equipmentdevice. In some embodiments, the first wireless communications linkbetween said wireless base station and customer premises equipmentdevice and second wireless communications link between said wirelessbase station and the first user equipment device utilize bandwidth inthe 3.5 GHz frequency spectrum.

The wireless base station may be, and in some embodiments is, a CSBDbeing operated in a CBRS network. In some such embodiments, thebandwidth frequency spectrum utilized by the first wirelesscommunications link and the second wireless communications link areassigned to the wireless base station by a Spectrum Access System. Thefirst user equipment device is typically a multi-mode communicationsdevice that is enabled to receive and transmit messages using two ormore separate wireless communications protocols simultaneously.

In most embodiments, the first user equipment device is a dual-modecommunications device that is enabled to communicate with other devicesusing a first wireless communications protocol and a second wirelesscommunications protocol simultaneously. The first wirelesscommunications protocol may be, and in most embodiments is, a Wi-Ficommunications protocol; and the second wireless communications protocolis one of the following protocols: 5G wireless communications protocol,a CBRS wireless communications protocol and a cellular wirelesscommunications protocol.

In some embodiments the method further includes the step of: generating,by the wireless base station, the data packets of the first packetstream, said generating the data packets of the first packet streamincluding marking the packets of the first packet stream that will becommunicated to the first user equipment device via the firsttransmission path to include an indication that the packets are part ofa packet stream being communicated over two separate transmission paths.In some embodiments, the step of marking the packets of the first packetstream to include an indication that the packets are part of a packetstream being communicated over two separate transmission paths includesincluding information in the packets of the first packet stream whichindicates that the packet is part of a packet being communicated overtwo separate transmission paths.

In some embodiments the method includes when a Wi-Fi Access Pointreceives a data packet including an indication that the packet is partof a packet stream being communicated over two separate transmissionpaths, said Wi-Fi Access Point will generate a Wi-Fi data packet basedon the received data packet, said generated Wi-Fi data packet includingPacket Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Packet with payload information(e.g., 5G PDCP) of the received data packet in the Medium Access Control(MAC) Packet Data Unit (PDU) part of the Wi-Fi packet frame.

In some embodiments when a Wi-Fi interface (e.g., Wi-Fi chipset) of auser equipment device receives a Wi-Fi data packet including anindication that the packet is part of a packet stream being communicatedover two separate transmission paths, the Wi-Fi interface will extractthe MAC PDU and communicate it to a second interface (e.g., 5G chipset)which will decode the MAC PDU information in accordance with theprotocol format of the second path (e.g., 5G decoder).

In some embodiments when operating in said first mode of operation thewireless base station communicates all packets belonging to a packetstream over a single transmission path to a user equipment device (e.g.,all packets of a packet stream communicated via CBSD to CPE to WI-FIAccess Point to UE transmission path or all packets of packet streamcommunicated via CBSD to UE transmission path) and when operating insaid second mode of operation said wireless base station communicates acommand to one or more Wi-Fi Access Points at the customer premises toperform a MAC layer conversion on received packets marked for MAC layerconversion before communicating the packets over a Wi-Fi channel to theuser equipment device. The MAC layer conversion in some embodimentsincludes encapsulating Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Packetwith payload information (e.g., 5G PDCP packet) of the received datapacket in the Medium Access Control (MAC) Packet Data Unit (PDU) part ofthe Wi-Fi packet frame.

The present invention is also applicable to and includes apparatus andsystems such as for example, apparatus and systems that implement thesteps of the method embodiments. An exemplary communications system inaccordance with the present invention includes a wireless base stationincluding: memory; and a processor included in the wireless base stationwhich controls the operation of the wireless base station to perform thefollowing operations: monitor for a first condition at a first customerpremises; switch, in response to detecting the first condition exists atthe first customer premises, from a first mode of operation to a secondmode of operation with respect to providing data services to a userequipment device located at the first customer premises; receive, afterswitching into said second mode of operation, at the wireless basestation a first data service request from a first user equipment device;and transmit, in response to said first data service request, one ormore data packets of a first data packet stream to the first userequipment device via a first transmission path and transmitting one ormore additional data packets of the first packet stream to the firstuser equipment device via a second transmission path. In some suchembodiments, when operating in said first mode of operation saidwireless base station communicates all packets belonging to a packetstream over a single transmission path to a user equipment device (e.g.,all packets of a packet stream communicated via CBSD to CPE to WI-FIAccess Point to UE transmission path or all packets of packet streamcommunicated via CBSD to UE transmission path). In some systemembodiments when operating in the second mode of operation the wirelessbase station communicates a command to one or more Wi-Fi Access Pointsat the customer premises to perform a MAC layer conversion on receivedpackets marked for MAC layer conversion before communicating the packetsover a Wi-Fi channel to the user equipment device. In some embodiments,the MAC layer conversion includes encapsulating Packet Data ConvergenceProtocol (PDCP) Packet with payload information (e.g., 5G PDCP packet)of the received data packet in the Medium Access Control (MAC) PacketData Unit (PDU) part of the Wi-Fi packet frame.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, itshould be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include thesame features and some of the features described above are not necessarybut can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features,embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communications system shown as aCitizens Broadband Radio Service network system 100 that provideswireless communications services in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the combination of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G,and 2H.

FIG. 2A illustrates the steps of the first part of an exemplary methodin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates the steps of the second part of an exemplary methodin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C illustrates the steps of the third part of an exemplary methodin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2D illustrates the steps of the fourth part of an exemplary methodin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2E illustrates the steps of the fifth part of an exemplary methodin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2F illustrates the steps of the sixth part of an exemplary methodin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2G illustrates the steps of the seventh part of an exemplary methodin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2H illustrates the steps of the eighth part of an exemplary methodin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates details of an exemplary Customer Premises Equipmentdevice, e.g., a Citizens Broadband Radio Service Customer PremiseEquipment (CBRS CPE) device, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates details of an exemplary wireless base station, e.g.,a Citizens Broadband Radio Service tower base station also referred toas Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates details of an exemplary User Equipment (UE) device inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates details of an exemplary Wi-Fi Access Point inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary assembly of components for a wirelessbase station, e.g., CBRS tower base station or CBSD, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary assembly of components for a userequipment device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary assembly of components for a Wi-FiAccess Point in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary assembly of components for a customerpremises equipment (CPE) device, e.g., CBRS CPE device, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a MAC layer conversion process used for example by aWi-Fi Access Point while in a MAC coordination mode of operation inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary packet information and packet fields inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates another exemplary system in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention in a Non-MAC coordination mode ofoperation.

FIG. 14 illustrates 5G and Wi-Fi protocol stacks.

FIG. 15 illustrates the exemplary system illustrated in FIG. 13 in a MACcoordination mode of operation.

FIG. 16 illustrates Wi-Fi Access Point connections to user equipmentdevices and the channel quality of the conditions.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary signaling diagram and method forswitching from a first mode of operation (Non-MAC coordination mode ofoperation) to a second mode of operation (MAC coordination mode ofoperation) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The current invention is applicable to wireless networks, e.g., CitizensBroadband Radio Service (CBRS) networks, that provide wirelesscommunications services, e.g., broadband services to user equipmentdevices at customer premises. The present invention solves the networkcongestion problems at customer premises that are receiving dataservices via wireless communication. Various embodiments of the presentinvention are directed to new apparatus and methods for providingwireless services, e.g., broadband data services, to devices located ata customer premises. While the invention is explained using an exemplaryCitizens Broadband Radio Service network, it should be understood thatthe invention is not limited to Citizens Broadband Radio Servicenetworks.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service networks are networks that include userequipment devices, e.g., mobile or wireless devices such as for examplecell phones, smart phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, CitizensBroadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) which serve as accesspoints/base stations, and Spectrum Access Systems which providesspectrum assignments and manage frequency interference through powermanagement of the CBSDs transmission power. The Citizens Broadband RadioService network utilizes the 150 megahetz in the 3550-3700 MHz bandreferred to as the 3.5 GHz Band. One important aspect of the CBRSnetwork is the limitation of interference, e.g., radio transmission,from multiple transmission sources, e.g., multiple CBSD devices locatednear each other or in close proximity to one another. The CBRS networkincludes Spectrum Access Systems that obtain information aboutregistered or licensed commercial users in the 3.5 GHz band from FCCdatabases and information about federal incumbent users of the band fromESC (Environmental Sensing Capability) system and interact directly orindirectly with CBSDs operating in the band to ensure that CitizensBroadband Radio Service users operate in a manner consistent with theirauthorizations and promote efficient use of the spectrum resource. Amongthe Spectrum Access System functions as defined in the Amendment of theCommission's Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650MHz Band released Apr. 21, 2015 are that: it determines the availablefrequencies at a given geographic location and assign them to CBSDs; itdetermines the maximum permissible transmission power level for CBSDs ata given location and communicates that information to the CBSDs; itregisters and authenticates the identification information and locationof CBSDs; it enforces exclusion and protection zones, including anyfuture changes to such Zones, to ensure compatibility between CitizensBroadband Radio Service users and incumbent federal operations; itprotects Priority Access Licensees (PAL) from impermissible interferencefrom other Citizens Broadband Radio Service users; ensures secure andreliable transmission of information between the SAS, ESC, and CBSDs;and it facilitates coordination and information exchange between SASs.Through the management of the CBSDs power transmission levels in ageographical area the SAS manages the radio interference in thegeographical area.

Various embodiments of the present invention describe methods,apparatus, systems and techniques for providing wireless services, e.g.,broadband services, to one or more devices at a customer premises. Inthe present invention, Citizen Broadband Radio Service spectrum, 3.5 GHzfrequency spectrum band, is used to serve nomadic and stationary users.The invention is useful to provide broadband services to geographicallyisolated or remote areas, e.g., rural areas, where wired or opticalconnections are expensive and not economical given the number ofcustomers to be serviced. The invention is also useful in urban areaswhere wireless services may be preferred as a replacement for wiredconnections or in addition to wired connections. In the presentinvention, a CBRS Customer Premise Equipment device (CPE) is located ata customer's premises inside of a house, business or any place wherethere are CBRS network users. The CBRS CPE device is coupled orconnected to at least one CBRS fixed wireless access (FWA) tower basestation (e.g., CBSD) over wireless communications links. The CBRS CPE istypically located in a building such as a home and is coupled to one ormore antennas or an antenna array through which the CBRS CPE devicetransmits to and receives from the antenna(s) of the CBRS FWA tower basestation (CBSD) wireless signals over the wireless communications link.These wireless communications links being in the 3.5 GHz frequencyspectrum band. The CBRS CPE device in some embodiments includes externalantennas. In some embodiments, the CBRS CPE device includes one or moreinternal antennas. In some embodiments, the CBRS CPE device includes oneor more internal antennas and one or more antenna ports to which one ormore external antennas are connected. The CBRS CPE device is coupledthrough a wired connection, e.g., a cable to one or more WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) Access Points. The CBRS CPE device also referred toherein as CPE device or CPE serves the subscribers or users located inits coverage area, e.g., in the house, building, or on the customer'spremises. The one or more Wi-Fi access points provide Wi-Fi services tothe one or more end point devices or user equipment devices located atthe customer premises. The one or more Wi-Fi access points are connectedover a cable or wired communications to the CBRS CPE device throughwhich backhaul is provided. One or more of the one or more endpointdevices or user equipment devices are dual mode devices that supportboth CBRS wireless protocols, e.g., 5G wireless protocols, and Wi-Fiprotocols. The dual mode devices, e.g., phones, are both wireless 5Genabled and Wi-Fi enabled with two different radios one for each type ofwireless protocol. These dual mode endpoint devices or user devices canconnect to both wireless networks at the same time and communicate usingthe two different wireless protocols, e.g., 5G wireless protocols andWi-Fi protocols, at the same time with respect to a single packet datastream wherein some packets of the packet stream are routed over a firstpath (e.g., direct 5G wireless protocol path to the end point device)and other packets of the same packet stream are routed via a second path(e.g., indirect Wi-Fi path) to the endpoint device. The end point devicethen combines/assemblies the data from the packets received from bothpaths to obtain the data of the packet stream. In connection with thediscussion of 5G wireless protocol, MAC layer and the Packet DataConvergence Protocol, the 3GPP TS 38.323 V15.6.0 (2019-06) (3rdGeneration Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group RadioAccess Network; NR; Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)specification (Release 15) is a specification which describes the 5GPDCP and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.The IEEE Std 802.11-2016, IEEE Standard for Informationtechnology-Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between SystemsLocal and Metropolitan Area Networks-Specific Requirements Part 11:Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)Specifications approved Dec. 7, 2016 describes the WI-FI MAC layer andis hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The wireless base station in the exemplary embodiment is a CBRS FWAtower base station which is a CBSD device and as such its transmissionpower levels and spectrum bandwidth are allocated or assigned to it viaa Spectrum Access System of the CBRS network. The CBRS network includesmultiple CBSD devices though only a single wireless base station, CBSD,is shown in the exemplary system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Each wireless base station, e.g., CBRS FWA tower base station/CBSD, iscoupled to and registered with a CBRS network Spectrum Access System(SAS) of the CBRS network. The CBRS network Spectrum Access Systemmanages the allocation of CBRS network spectrum and transmission powerlevels. The SAS is responsible for assigning/allocating spectrum to theCBRS FWA tower base stations.

The CBRS CPE device antenna(s) are typically located at an elevatedposition such as for example on the top of a roof of a building or on apole outside the building in which the CBRS CPE device is located. Insome embodiments, the CBRS CPE device includes one or more internalantennas and/or one or more antenna ports for connecting the device viaa wire to external antennas mounted outside of the building.

The transmission power levels allocated for the wireless base stations,e.g., CBRS FWA tower base stations/CBSDs, are high in comparison to thetransmission power level of the CPE devices, e.g., CBRS CPE devices. Forexample, a CBRS FWA tower base station coverage area can includehundreds of customer premises while the CBRS CPE device has a muchsmaller coverage area. Each CBRS CPE located at a customer's premisesprovides services to subscriber's user equipment devices such ascomputers, laptops, tablets, smart devices (e.g., appliances, watches,smartTVs), streaming devices, WiFi devices, CBRS enabled devices (e.g.,CBRS phones), via one or more Wi-Fi Access Points. The CPE deviceincludes at least one wireless interface for communicating with wirelessbase, e.g., CBRS FWA tower base station. The CPE device also includesone or more wired and/or optical interfaces so that it can be coupled toand communicate with WiFi access points or base stations and/or otherdevices with wired and/or optical interfaces such as internet telephonysystems, cable network devices, internet media streaming devices, e.g.,over wired or optical networks (e.g., local area networks or wide areanetworks) at the customer's premises. The CPE device provides bridgingand/or protocol converter and/or router functionality as the CPE deviceconverts wireless signals received in a first protocol format, e.g., 5Gwireless signal, CBRS wireless signal or a cellular wireless signal, toa format that is understood by the Wi-Fi access points.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communications system 100 illustrated asa CBRS network communications system, having an architecture implementedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and beingcoupled to a network 190 (e.g., the internet). The communications system100 also referred to as the CBRS communications network system 100includes at least one wireless base station 1 102 illustrated as aCitizens Broadcast Radio Service FWA tower base station (CBSD) (e.g.,CBSD 1), a plurality of Spectrum Access System devices (SAS 1 110, SAS 2184), a plurality of customer premises (customer premises 1 114,customer premises 2 150, . . . , customer premises X 156, X being aninteger greater than 2), a plurality of CBRS Customer Premises Equipmentdevices (CBRS CPE device 1 112, CBRS CPE device 2 152, . . . , CBRS CPEdevice X 158, X being integer greater than 2), a plurality of Wi-FiAccess Points or base stations (Wi-Fi AP 1 122, Wi-Fi AP 2 124, . . . ,Wi-Fi AP N 126, WiFi AP X 160) an ESC system 186, a FCC Database System182, and a plurality of communications links 121, 123, . . . , 125, 130,132, 134, . . . 136, 140, 143, 166, 168, 169, 170, 172, 173, 176, 178,181, 190, 191, 192, 193, and 194. The CBRS system 100 is coupled to anetwork 190, e.g., the Internet, through which various services can beprovided such as for example voice over internet call services, video ondemand services, video conferencing services. In some embodiments, thenetwork is a part of the CBRS network and the services are provided fromCBRS network service providers. In the example system shown in FIG. 1the wireless base station 102, e.g., CBRS tower base station 1 or CBSD 1is illustrated as being coupled or connected to the network 190 viacommunications link 143 which may be a wired, wireless or optical link.Though not shown the CBRS network typically includes other wireless basestations, e.g., CBRS tower base stations or CBSDs, which are alsotypically coupled or connected to the network 190 via communicationslinks. In some embodiments, the wireless base stations, e.g., CBRS towerbase stations or CBSDs, are coupled to a packet gateway system which ispart of and located in the network 190.

CPE device 1 (CPE 1) 112, e.g., CBRS CPE device, includes an antennasystem 113, e.g., one or more antenna or an antenna array mounted on aroof of a building 115, e.g., home or office building, located incustomer premises 1 114 for communicating with the wireless base station102, e.g., CBRS tower base station 1 102. The antenna being coupled to aportion of the CPE device 1 which is located inside the house 115 andwhich also includes separate interfaces for communicating with Wi-FiAccess Points located at the customer premises or within its coveragerange. Wi-Fi Access Points 122, 124, and 126 are coupled to or connectedto the CPE device 1 112 via wires or cables 121, 123, and 125respectively in the exemplary embodiment.

CPE device 2 (CPE 2) 152, e.g., CBRS CPE device 2, is located at thecustomer premises 2 150 and includes an antenna system 154 located at anelevated position (e.g., mounted on a pole or roof of a building locatedat the customer premises 2 150) for communicating with the wireless basestations e.g., wireless base station 102, e.g., CBRS tower base station1 102. The elevation of the antenna system allows for less obstructionof wireless signals do to other structures and hence provides for alarger geographical area within which it can exchange wireless signalswith wireless base stations, e.g., CBRS tower base stations.

CPE device X (CBRS CPE X) 158 is located at the customer premises X 156and includes an internal antenna and/or antenna array within the devicefor communicating with wireless base station, e.g., CBRS Tower basestation 1 102 also referred to as CBSD 1.

Customer premises 1 114 includes Wi-Fi Access Point 1 (Wi-Fi AP 1) 122,Wi-Fi AP 2 124, . . . , Wi-Fi AP N (N being an integer greater than 2)which provide Wi-Fi services to the user equipment devices at thecustomer premises 1 114 which include UE 1 116, UE 2 118, UE 3 119, . .. , UE M 120, where M is an integer greater than 3.

Customer premises 2 150 similarly includes one or more Wi-Fi accesspoints and UE devices though they are not shown for the sake ofsimplicity.

Customer premises X 156 includes CPE device X 158, Wi-Fi Access Point X160 and endpoint or user equipment devices UE X1 162, . . . , UE XP 164,where P is an integer greater than 1. The user equipment devices UE X1162, . . . , UE XP 164 being coupled or connected to the Wi-Fi AP 160via Wi-Fi communications links. The Wi-Fi AP 160 being coupled orconnected to the CPE X via a communications link such as for example awire or cable connection.

In the exemplary embodiment, the user equipment devices UE 1 116, UE 2118, UE 3 119, . . . , UE M 120 and UE X1 162, . . . , UE XP 164 areenabled to simultaneously wirelessly communicate using a first wirelessprotocol, e.g., CBRS wireless signaling protocols (e.g., 5G wirelessprotocols) and Wi-Fi protocols with respect to the same packet stream.In some embodiments, some UE devices are not enabled for both CBRSwireless signaling protocol use and Wi-Fi signaling as they may onlyinclude a Wi-Fi radio. Such devices cannot operate in the dual mode alsoreferred to as dual path mode in accordance with some aspects of thepresent invention.

SAS 1 110 is coupled to SAS 2 184 via communications link 178. SAS 1 110is coupled to FCC Databases 182 via communications link 176. SAS 2 184is coupled to FCC Databases 182 via communications link 181. ESC system186 is coupled to SAS 1 110 and SAS 2 184 via communications links 170and 172 respectively. The ESC System 186 is coupled to the FCC Databases182 via communications link 173. The ESC system 186 is used to detectand/or sense Navy radar operations in CBRS operation within 3550-3650MHz near the coasts and provide notifications over the communicationslinks to SAS 1 110 and SAS 2 184. SAS 1 110 manages the CBRS tower base1 102 spectrum allocation and transmission power to limit interferencein the CBRS network. SAS 2 184 manages CBSDs including other CBRS towerbase stations in the CBRS network which are not shown in FIG. 1. SAS 1110 and SAS 2 184 communicate and share information regarding the CBRSnetwork coverage of the CBSDs including CBRS tower base stations eachrespectively manage and coordinate management of the allocation ofspectrum and power transmission levels of CBSDs including CBRS towerbase stations throughout the CBRS network. While only two SAS devicesare shown in FIG. 1 it should be understood that additional SAS devicesare typically used in the CBRS network. In some embodiments, one or moreof the CBRS tower base stations of the CBRS network are also coupled orconnected to each other either through wired and/or wirelesscommunications links so that they can communicate and exchangeinformation.

The communications links 166, 168, 169, 190, 191, 192, 193 and 194 arewireless communications links in the 3.5 GHz frequency spectrum band.The communications link 166 couples or connects the wireless basestation 102, e.g., CBRS tower 1 base station 102, to CPE device 1 112.The communications link 168 is also a wireless communications link inthe 3.5 GHz frequency spectrum band that couples or connects wirelessbase station 102 to CPE device 2 152. The communications link 169 is awireless communications link in the 3.5 GHz frequency spectrum band thatcouples or connects wireless base station 102 to CPE device X 158.Communications links 190, 191, 192, . . . , 193 are wirelesscommunications links in the 3.5 GHz frequency spectrum band that couplesor connects wireless base station 102 to user equipment devices UE 1116, UE 2 118, UE 3 119, . . . , UE M 120 respectively. Thecommunications link 194 is a wireless communications link in the 3.5 GHzfrequency spectrum band that couples or connects wireless base station102 to user equipment device X1 162. The user equipment device XP 164 isnot connected to the wireless base station 1 102 because it is notreceiving a signal or a stronger enough signal from the wireless basestation 102 to connect to the wireless base station.

Communications links 140, 143, 170, 172, 173, 176, 178, 181 aretypically wired communications links or fiber optical cables.Communications links 140 couples or connect SAS 1 110 to wireless basestation, e.g., CBSD 1 102.

The communications links 130, 132, . . . , 134 are Wi-Fi wirelesscommunications links which couple or connect user equipment device 1 (UE1) 116, user equipment device 2 (UE 2) 118, user equipment device 3 (UE3) 119, . . . , user equipment device M 120 to Wi-Fi Access Points asshown in FIG. 1.

In the example system 100, one or more of the customer premises do nothave wired or optical communications links that provide broadbandservices to the user devices located at the customer premises insteadbroadband services are provided by the wireless network, e.g., CBRSnetwork by the wireless communications links coupling the wireless basestation 102, e.g., CBRS tower base station 1 102, to the user deviceslocated at the customer premises via direct wireless connections to theuser devices and via the indirect wireless connections via the CPEdevice and Wi-Fi Access Points located at the customer premises.

It is to be understood that the communication links shown in system 100are only exemplary and other network configurations and communicationslinks may be employed that couple together the devices, base stations,access points, nodes, entities, and databases of the system 100.Elements or steps with the same reference numbers used in differentfigures are the same or similar and those elements or steps will not bedescribed in detail again.

While for the sake of simplicity in explaining the invention system 100only illustrates a single wireless base station shown as CBRS tower basestation device (CBSD), two SAS devices and a few customer premises witha single CPE device servicing a few UE devices through one or more Wi-FiAccess Points, it will be appreciated that system 100 typically includesa large plurality of wireless base stations, e.g., CBRS tower basestations or CBSDs, with a large number, e.g., hundreds, of customerpremises within each of the wireless base station's, e.g., CBRS towerbase station's, coverage range including a CPE device which issupporting a plurality of Wi-Fi Access Points and a plurality of UEdevices at the customer premises with the wireless base stations beingmanaged by a plurality of SAS devices which are in communication withone another.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an exemplary CPE device 300, e.g., a CitizensBroadband Radio Service Customer Premise Equipment device 300, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary CPE device 300includes wireless interfaces 304, a network interface 305, e.g., a wiredor optical interface, a processor 306, e.g., a CPU, an assembly ofhardware components 308, e.g., an assembly of circuits, and I/Ointerface 310 and memory 312 coupled together via a bus 309 over whichthe various elements may interchange data and information. CPE device300 further includes a speaker 352, a display 354, switches 356, keypad358 and mouse 359 coupled to I/O interface 310, via which the variousI/O devices (352, 354, 356, 358, 359) may communicate with otherelements (304, 305, 306, 308, 312) of the CPE device 300. Networkinterface 305 includes a receiver 378 and a transmitter 380. In someembodiments, receiver 378 and transmitter 380 are part of a transceiver384. Wireless interfaces 304 include a plurality of wireless interfacesincluding first wireless interface 324 and a second wireless interface350. The first wireless interface 324 is used to communicate with thewireless base station, e.g., CBRS tower base station. The secondwireless interface is optional and can be used to communicate with adifferent wireless base station than the first wireless interface forexample to obtain additional backhaul capability. The first wirelessinterface 324 includes wireless receiver 338 and a wireless transmitter340. In some embodiments, receiver 338 and transmitter 340 are part of atransceiver. In various embodiments, the first wireless interface 324includes a plurality of wireless receivers and a plurality of wirelesstransmitters. Wireless receiver 338 is coupled to a plurality of receiveantennas (receive antenna 1 339, . . . , receive antenna M 341), viawhich CPE device 300 can receive wireless signals from other wirelesscommunications devices including a second wireless communicationsdevice, e.g., a wireless base station, e.g., CBRS tower base station orCBSD. Wireless transmitter 340 is coupled to a plurality of wirelesstransmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 343, . . . , transmit antenna N345) via which the CPE device 300 can transmit signals to other wirelesscommunications devices including a second wireless communicationsdevice, e.g., wireless base station such as a CBRS tower base station.The antennas 339, . . . , 341 and 343, . . . , 345 are typically mountedon the roof of the building in which the CPE device is located or on apoll at an elevated height with the other elements of the CPE devicebeing connected to the antennas via a wired or fiber optic connection.In some embodiments the various antennas form an antenna array with theantennas pointing in different directions. In some embodiments, one ormore of the antennas are included inside the housing of the CPE deviceand the CPE device includes one or more connections to which exteriorantennas may be connected.

The second optional wireless interface 350 includes wireless receiver352 and a wireless transmitter 354. In some embodiments, receiver 352and transmitter 354 are part of a transceiver. In various embodiments,the second wireless interface 350 includes a plurality of wirelessreceivers and a plurality of wireless transmitters. Wireless receiver352 is coupled to one or more receive antennas (receive antenna 1 356, .. . , receive antenna M 357), via which CPE device 300 can receivewireless signals from other wireless communications devices including asecond wireless communications device, e.g., a second wireless basestation using the same or a different wireless protocol than the firstwireless interface. Wireless transmitter 354 is coupled to one or morewireless transmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 358, . . . , transmitantenna N 360) via which the CPE device 300 can transmit signals toother wireless communications devices including a second wirelesscommunications device. The CPE device network interface 305 may becoupled to Wi-Fi Access Points, LAN networks, WANs, routers, e.g., WiFirouters or Access Points, so that various devices in the home withoutwireless interfaces can also be serviced via wired or optical links bythe CPE device 300.

Memory 312 includes an assembly of components 314, e.g., an assembly ofsoftware components, and data/information 316. Data/information 316includes UE device information corresponding to a plurality of userequipment devices (UE device A information 317, . . . , UE device Minformation 319 where A to M are the UE devices being serviced by theCPE device) and wireless device base station information (e.g., CBRStower base station 1 information 320) and Wi-Fi Access Point Information322 which includes information about the Wi-Fi Access Points connectedto the CPE device including link buffers and link buffer statusinformation. In some embodiments, one or more of the CPE devices shownand/or discussed in connection with the Figures and methods discussedherein including one or more of CPE device 1 112, CPE device 2 152, . .. , CPE device X 158 are implemented in accordance with CPE device 300.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless base station 400, e.g., aCitizens Broadband Radio Service Fixed Wireless Access Tower BaseStation (CBSD) 400, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.Exemplary wireless base station 400, e.g., CBRS tower base station 400,includes a wireless interface 404, a network interface 405, e.g., awired or optical interface, a processor 406, e.g., a CPU, an assembly ofhardware components 408, e.g., an assembly of circuits, and I/Ointerface 410 and memory 412 coupled together via a bus 409 over whichthe various elements may interchange data and information. Wireless basestation 400 further includes a speaker 452, a display 454, switches 456,keypad 458 and mouse 459 coupled to I/O interface 410, via which thevarious I/O devices (452, 454, 456, 458, 459) may communicate with otherelements (404, 405, 406, 408, 412) of the wireless base station 400.Network interface 405 includes a receiver 478 and a transmitter 480. Insome embodiments, receiver 478 and transmitter 480 are part of atransceiver 484. Wireless interfaces 404 include a plurality of wirelessinterfaces including first wireless interface 424, second wirelessinterface 450, . . . , Kth wireless interface 455. The wirelessinterfaces are used to communicate with the CPE devices and UE devices.The first wireless interface 424 is used for example to communicate witha CPE device, e.g., CPE 1 112. The second wireless interface can be usedto communicate with a user equipment device, e.g., UE 1 116. The firstwireless interface 424 includes wireless receiver 438 and a wirelesstransmitter 440. In some embodiments, receiver 438 and transmitter 440are part of a transceiver. In various embodiments, the first wirelessinterface 424 includes a plurality of wireless receivers and a pluralityof wireless transmitters. Wireless receiver 438 is coupled to aplurality of receive antennas (receive antenna 1 439, . . . , receiveantenna M 441), via which wireless base station 400 can receive wirelesssignals from other wireless communications devices including a secondwireless communications device, e.g., a CPE device or a user equipmentdevice. Wireless transmitter 340 is coupled to a plurality of wirelesstransmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 443, . . . , transmit antenna N445) via which the wireless base station 400 can transmit signals toother wireless communications devices including a second wirelesscommunications device, e.g., CPE device or a user equipment device.

The second wireless interface 450 includes wireless receiver 452 and awireless transmitter 454. In some embodiments, receiver 452 andtransmitter 454 are part of a transceiver. In various embodiments, thesecond wireless interface 450 includes a plurality of wireless receiversand a plurality of wireless transmitters. Wireless receiver 452 iscoupled to one or more receive antennas (receive antenna 1 456, . . . ,receive antenna M 457), via which wireless base station 400 can receivewireless signals from other wireless communications devices including asecond wireless communications device, e.g., a CPE device or UE device,using the same or a different wireless protocol than the first wirelessinterface. Wireless transmitter 454 is coupled to one or more wirelesstransmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 458, . . . , transmit antenna N460) via which the wireless base station 400 can transmit signals toother wireless communications devices including a second wirelesscommunications device. The wireless base station network interface 405may be coupled to SAS system, other networks, e.g., internet, or otherwireless base stations.

Memory 412 includes an assembly of components 414, e.g., an assembly ofsoftware components, and data/information 416. Data/information 416includes UE device information corresponding to a plurality of userequipment devices (UE device A information 417, . . . , UE device Minformation 419 where A to M are the UE devices being serviced by thewireless base station), CPE device information (CPE device 1 information420, . . . , CPE device X information 422), and Wi-Fi Access Pointinformation 423. While the details of the first and second wirelessinterfaces are shown, the other wireless interfaces of the wireless basestation, e.g., wireless interface K where K is an integer greater than 2also include multiple receivers and transmitters so that the wirelessbase station 400 can provide wireless services to hundreds of CPEdevices and thousands of user equipment devices. In some embodiments,one or more of the wireless base stations discussed and/or shown in theFigures and/or in connection with the methods discussed herein includingwireless base station 102 are implemented in accordance with thewireless base station 400.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary user equipment (UE) device 500 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. UE device 500 is, e.g., acomputer, a mobile device such as a cell phone, a smart phone, wirelesstablet or wireless notebook, a smartTV, internet cable box, internetenabled device, WiFi device. UE device 500 includes WiFi devicecapabilities. UE device 500 in addition to having Wi-Fi devicecapabilities is also enabled to communicate using at least one otherwireless protocol, e.g., 5G wireless protocol, CBRS wireless protocol orcellular wireless protocol. The UE device 500 in some embodiments is aCBRS user equipment device operating at the 3.5 GHz band which also hasWi-Fi capabilities and can be operated to work in dual mode where it iscapable of receiving packets from the same packet stream via twodifferent paths or two different wireless protocol connections. Forexample the first path or wireless protocol connection being a Wi-Fiprotocol connection or channel and a second path or wireless protocolconnection being via a 5G wireless protocol connection or channel, CBRSwireless protocol connection or channel or a cellular protocolconnection or channel. Exemplary UE device 500 includes wirelessinterfaces 504, a network interface 505, a processor 506, e.g., a CPU,an assembly of hardware components 508, e.g., an assembly of circuits,and I/O interface 510 and memory 512 coupled together via a bus 509 overwhich the various elements may interchange data and information. UEdevice 500 further includes a microphone 550, camera 551, speaker 552, adisplay 554, e.g., a touch screen display, switches 556, keypad 558 andmouse 559 coupled to I/O interface 510, via which the various I/Odevices (550, 551, 552, 554, 556, 558, 559) may communicate with otherelements (504, 505, 506, 508, 512) of the UE device. Network interface505 includes a receiver 578 and a transmitter 580. The network interface505 can be coupled to routers within the home or customer premises or towired (e.g., cable) or optical (e.g., fiber-optic) networks. In someembodiments, receiver 578 and transmitter 580 are part of a transceiver584.

Wireless interfaces 504 include a plurality of wireless interfacesincluding first wireless interface 524 and a second wireless interface550. The first wireless interface 524 is used to communicate with thewireless base station, e.g., CBRS tower base station. The secondwireless interface is used to communicate with a Wi-Fi Access Point. Thefirst wireless interface 524 includes wireless receiver 538 and awireless transmitter 540. In some embodiments, receiver 538 andtransmitter 540 are part of a transceiver. In various embodiments, thefirst wireless interface 524 includes a plurality of wireless receiversand a plurality of wireless transmitters. Wireless receiver 538 iscoupled to a plurality of receive antennas (receive antenna 1 539, . . ., receive antenna M 541), via which user equipment device 500 canreceive wireless signals from other wireless communications devicesincluding a wireless base station, e.g., wireless base station 102,e.g., CBRS tower base station or CBSD for example using 3.5 GHzbandwidth spectrum. Wireless transmitter 540 is coupled to a pluralityof wireless transmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 543, , transmitantenna N 545) via which the user equipment device 500 can transmitsignals to other wireless communications devices including a secondwireless communications device, e.g., wireless base station such as aCBRS tower base station. The antennas 539, . . . , 541 and 543, . . . ,545 are typically mounted inside the housing of the wireless device butin some embodiments are located outside the user equipment devicehousing. In some embodiments the various antennas form an antenna arraywith the antennas pointing in different directions. In some embodiments,one or more of the antennas are included inside the housing of the userequipment device and the user equipment device includes one or moreconnections to which exterior antennas may be connected.

The second wireless interface 550 includes wireless receiver 552 and awireless transmitter 554. In some embodiments, receiver 552 andtransmitter 554 are part of a transceiver. In various embodiments, thesecond wireless interface 550 includes a plurality of wireless receiversand a plurality of wireless transmitters. Wireless receiver 552 iscoupled to one or more receive antennas (receive antenna 1 556, . . . ,receive antenna M 557), via which user device 500 can receive wirelesssignals from other wireless communications devices including a secondwireless communications device, e.g., a Wi-Fi Access Point using Wi-Fiprotocol. Wireless transmitter 554 is coupled to one or more wirelesstransmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 558, . . . , transmit antenna N560) via which the user equipment device 500 can transmit signals toother wireless communications devices including a second wirelesscommunications device. The user equipment device network interface 505may be coupled to LAN or WAN networks or routers so that the userequipment device can also obtain services via a hardwired connection inaddition to through the wireless interfaces. In the exemplary embodimentthe second wireless interface is a Wi-Fi wireless interface. The firstwireless interface is connected or coupled to the second wirelessinterface via wire 598 so that the two interfaces can exchangeinformation. The second wireless interface (e.g., Wi-Fi interface 550)uses the wire 598 to communicate data to the first wireless interfacefor processing for example when the user equipment device 500 isoperating in dual mode and the user equipment device determines that thereceived Wi-Fi packet includes information, e.g., a 5G PDCP packet,which needs to be processed by the first wireless interface.

Memory 512 includes an assembly of components 514, e.g., an assembly ofsoftware components, and data/information 516.

In some embodiments, one or more of the user equipment devices shown inthe figures or discussed herein for example in connection with themethods described including for example UE devices UE 1 116, UE 2 118,UE 3 119, . . . , UE M 120, UE X1 162, . . . , UE XP 164 are implementedin accordance with exemplary user equipment device 500.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary Wi-Fi Access Point 600 in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary Wi-Fi Access Point 600 includesa wireless interface 604, e.g., a Wi-Fi interface for transmitting,receiving and processing Wi-Fi messages/packets, a network interface605, e.g., a wired or optical interface, a processor 606, e.g., a CPU,an assembly of hardware components 608, e.g., an assembly of circuits,and I/O interface 610 and memory 612 coupled together via a bus 609 overwhich the various elements may interchange data and information. Wi-FiAccess Point 600 further includes a speaker 652, a display 654, switches656, keypad 658 and mouse 659 coupled to I/O interface 610, via whichthe various I/O devices (652, 654, 656, 658, 659) may communicate withother elements (604, 605, 606, 608, 612) of the Wi-Fi Access Point 600.Network interface 605 includes a receiver 678 and a transmitter 680. Thenetwork interface 605 is typically connected or coupled to a wired oroptical communications link or network which in turn is coupled orconnected to a CPE device. In some embodiments, receiver 678 andtransmitter 680 are part of a transceiver 684. Wireless interface 604includes a wireless receiver 638 and a wireless transmitter 640. In someembodiments, receiver 638 and transmitter 640 are part of a transceiver624. In various embodiments, wireless interface 604 includes a pluralityof wireless receivers and a plurality of wireless transmitters. Wirelessreceiver 638 is coupled to a plurality of receive antennas (receiveantenna 1 639, . . . , receive antenna M 641), via which Wi-Fi AccessPoint 600 can receive wireless signals from other wirelesscommunications devices including a second wireless communicationsdevice, e.g., a UE device. Wireless transmitter 640 is coupled to aplurality of wireless transmit antennas (transmit antenna 1 643, . . . ,transmit antenna N 645) via which the Wi-Fi Access Point 600 cantransmit signals to other wireless communications devices e.g., a UEdevice.

Memory 612 includes an assembly of components 614, e.g., an assembly ofsoftware components, and data/information 616. Data/information 616includes UE device information corresponding to a plurality of userequipment devices (UE device A information 617, . . . , UE device Minformation 619 where A to M are the UE devices being serviced by theWi-Fi Access Point) and CPE device information (CPE device 1information) 620. The Wi-Fi Access Point includes in some embodimentsmultiple wireless interfaces or a wireless interface with multiplereceivers and transmitters so that it can provides wireless services toa plurality of user equipment devices. In some embodiments, one or moreof Wi-Fi Access Points discussed and/or shown in the Figures and/or inconnection with the methods discussed herein including Wi-Fi AccessPoints 122, 124, . . . , 126, and 160 are implemented in accordance withthe Wi-Fi Access Point 600.

FIG. 7 is a drawing of an exemplary assembly of components 700 which maybe included in a wireless base station, e.g., exemplary wireless basestation 400 of FIG. 4, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Thecomponents in the assembly of components 700 can, and in someembodiments are, implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g.,processor 406, e.g., as individual circuits. The components in theassembly of components 700 can, and in some embodiments are, implementedfully in hardware within the assembly of hardware components 408, e.g.,as individual circuits corresponding to the different components. Inother embodiments some of the components are implemented, e.g., ascircuits, within processor 406 with other components being implemented,e.g., as circuits within assembly of components 408, external to andcoupled to the processor 406. As should be appreciated the level ofintegration of components on the processor and/or with some componentsbeing external to the processor may be one of design choice.Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe components may be implemented in software and stored in the memory412 of the wireless base station device 400, with the componentscontrolling operation of wireless base station device 400 to implementthe functions corresponding to the components when the components areexecuted by a processor e.g., processor 406. In some such embodiments,the assembly of components 700 is included in the memory 412 as assemblyof software components 414. In still other embodiments, variouscomponents in assembly of components 700 are implemented as acombination of hardware and software, e.g., with another circuitexternal to the processor providing input to the processor which thenunder software control operates to perform a portion of a component'sfunction.

When implemented in software the components include code, which whenexecuted by a processor, e.g., processor 406, configure the processor toimplement the function corresponding to the component. In embodimentswhere the assembly of components 700 is stored in the memory 412, thememory 412 is a computer program product comprising a computer readablemedium comprising code, e.g., individual code for each component, forcausing at least one computer, e.g., processor 406, to implement thefunctions to which the components correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 7 control and/or configure the wireless base stationdevice 400 or elements therein such as the processor 406, to perform thefunctions of corresponding steps illustrated and/or described in themethod of one or more of the flowcharts, signaling diagrams and/ordescribed with respect to any of the Figures. Thus the assembly ofcomponents 700 includes various components that perform functions oroperations corresponding to one or more described and/or illustratedsteps of an exemplary method.

Assembly of components 700 includes a control routines component 702, acommunications component 704, a message generator component 706, amessage processing component 708, a Wi-Fi Access Overload Detectioncomponent 710, a determination component 712, a switch mode of operationcomponent 714, an establish dual transmission path component 716, apacket marking component 718, a channel quality determination component720, a user equipment device Wi-Fi Access Point connection commandcomponent 722, a storage component 724 and a monitoring component 726.

The control routines component 702 is configured to control operation ofthe wireless base station. The communications component 704 isconfigured to handle communications, e.g., transmission and reception ofmessages, and protocol signaling for the wireless base station. Themessage generator component 706 is configured to generate messages fortransmission to other devices. The message processing component 708 isconfigured to process received messages and is sometimes a sub-componentof communications component 704. The determination component 712 makesvarious determinations for the wireless base station includingdetermining amount of spectrum to request from the SAS, power level touse for transmissions, determining if an overload condition exists at acustomer premises, determining if a downlink congestion condition existsat a customer premises, determining whether to switch from a first modeof operation to a second mode of operation, determining channelconnection status of Wi-Fi connections between user equipment devicesand Wi-Fi Access Points, determining channel quality for 5G or otherwireless protocol connections between the wireless base station and userequipment devices. The switch mode of operation component 714 determineswhen the wireless base station is to switch from one mode of operationto another mode of operation and performs operations to effectuate theswitching of the modes of operation at the wireless base station and atdevices located at the customer premises which also require switchingmodes of operation. The establish dual transmission path component 716establishes two separate transmission paths to a user equipment deviceat a customer premises, e.g., a first 5G wireless direct connection pathto the user equipment device and a second path which contains a Wi-Ficonnection as the last leg of the transmission path to the userequipment device. The packet marking component 718 marks packets forexample to indicate whether the packet is designated for MAC layerconversion. In some embodiments, the packet marking component 718 markspackets as described in connection with FIG. 12. The channel qualitydetermination component 720 determines the quality of various channelsand signaling conditions for example the quality of the signaling anddata transfer conditions of a direct wireless channel connection (e.g.,5G wireless channel connection) between the wireless base station and auser equipment device at a customer premises and the quality of theWi-Fi channel connections between the Wi-Fi Access Points and the userequipment devices located at the customer premises with the Wi-Fi AccessPoints. The user equipment device Wi-Fi Access Point connection commandcomponent 722 generates and sends commands to manage one or more userequipment devices' Wi-Fi connections to Wi-Fi Access Points. The storagecomponent 724 controls the storage and retrieval of information and datain the memory of the wireless base station. The monitoring component 726monitors for different conditions to be satisfied, e.g., for a Wi-FiAccess Point overload condition to exist at a customer premises,congestion on the downlink(s) at a customer premises, or clearing of aWi-Fi Access Point Overload Condition or the clearing of congestion onthe downlink(s) at a customer premises.

FIG. 8 is a drawing of an exemplary assembly of components 800 which maybe included in an exemplary user equipment (UE) device, e.g., UE device500 of FIG. 5, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Thecomponents in the assembly of components 800 can, and in someembodiments are, implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g.,processor 506, e.g., as individual circuits. The components in theassembly of components 800 can, and in some embodiments are, implementedfully in hardware within the assembly of hardware components 508, e.g.,as individual circuits corresponding to the different components. Inother embodiments some of the components are implemented, e.g., ascircuits, within processor 506 with other components being implemented,e.g., as circuits within assembly of components 508, external to andcoupled to the processor 506. As should be appreciated the level ofintegration of components on the processor and/or with some componentsbeing external to the processor may be one of design choice.Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe components may be implemented in software and stored in the memory512 of the UE device 500, with the components controlling operation ofUE device 500 to implement the functions corresponding to the componentswhen the components are executed by a processor e.g., processor 506. Insome such embodiments, the assembly of components 800 is included in thememory 512 as assembly of software components 514. In still otherembodiments, various components in assembly of components 800 areimplemented as a combination of hardware and software, e.g., withanother circuit external to the processor providing input to theprocessor which then under software control operates to perform aportion of a component's function. When implemented in software thecomponents include code, which when executed by a processor, e.g.,processor 506, configure the processor to implement the functioncorresponding to the component. In embodiments where the assembly ofcomponents 800 is stored in the memory 512, the memory 512 is a computerprogram product comprising a computer readable medium comprising code,e.g., individual code for each component, for causing at least onecomputer, e.g., processor 506, to implement the functions to which thecomponents correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 8 control and/or configure the UE device 500 orelements therein such as the processor 506, to perform the functions ofcorresponding steps illustrated and/or described in the method of one ormore of the flowcharts, signaling diagrams and/or described with respectto any of the Figures. Thus the assembly of components 800 includesvarious components that perform functions of corresponding one or moredescribed and/or illustrated steps of an exemplary method.

Assembly of components 800 includes a control routines component 802, amessage generator component 804, a message processing component 806, acommunications component 808, an applications component 810, a dual modeof operation component 812, a determination component 814, and a storagecomponent 816. The control routines component 802 is configured tocontrol operation of the UE. The message generator component 804 isconfigured to generate messages for transmission to various devicesincluding the wireless base station and the Wi-Fi Access Point to whichit is connected or coupled. The message processing component 806 isconfigured to process messages received from other devices, e.g., awireless base station or a Wi-Fi Access Point. In some embodiments, themessage processing component 806 is a sub-component of thecommunications component 808. The communications component 808 isconfigured to handle communications, e.g., receipt and transmission ofsignals and provide protocol signal processing for one or more protocolsfor the UE. The applications component 810 is configured to providevarious application services for the UE device, e.g., voice overinternet protocol calling services, video on demand services, mediadownload services, conferencing services, internet access and webbrowsing services, etc. The dual mode of operation component 812 isconfigured to establish two transmission paths for simultaneouslyreceiving data packets using different wireless protocols (e.g., 5Gwireless protocol and Wi-Fi protocol) with the data being from the samepacket stream. In some embodiments, the component receives andrecombines the data from the packet stream over two different wirelessinterfaces and combines the data based on packet identifies to correctlyorder the packet data. The determination component 814 is responsiblefor making determinations at the user equipment device including forexample whether to request data services in response to user inputs,whether a packet has been marked as a Wi-Fi only packet, a 5G onlypacket or a 5G over Wi-Fi packet that has undergone a MAC layerconversion. The determination component also determines signal strengthand quality of various communications connections/channels such as forexample, Wi-Fi connections/channels between the user equipment deviceand Wi-Fi Access Points and 5G connections/channels between the userequipment device and one or more wireless base stations. The storagecomponent 816 controls the storage and retrieval of information and datain the memory of user equipment device.

FIG. 9 is a drawing of an exemplary assembly of components 900 which maybe included in an exemplary Wi-Fi Access Point, e.g., exemplary Wi-FiAccess Point 600 of FIG. 6, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.The components in the assembly of components 900 can, and in someembodiments are, implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g.,processor 606, e.g., as individual circuits. The components in theassembly of components 900 can, and in some embodiments are, implementedfully in hardware within the assembly of hardware components 608, e.g.,as individual circuits corresponding to the different components. Inother embodiments some of the components are implemented, e.g., ascircuits, within processor 606 with other components being implemented,e.g., as circuits within assembly of components 608, external to andcoupled to the processor 606. As should be appreciated the level ofintegration of components on the processor and/or with some componentsbeing external to the processor may be one of design choice.Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe components may be implemented in software and stored in the memory612 of the Wi-Fi Access Point 600, with the components controllingoperation of Wi-Fi Access Point 600 to implement the functionscorresponding to the components when the components are executed by aprocessor e.g., processor 606. In some such embodiments, the assembly ofcomponents 900 is included in the memory 612 as assembly of softwarecomponents 614. In still other embodiments, various components inassembly of components 900 are implemented as a combination of hardwareand software, e.g., with another circuit external to the processorproviding input to the processor which then under software controloperates to perform a portion of a component's function.

When implemented in software the components include code, which whenexecuted by a processor, e.g., processor 606, configure the processor toimplement the function corresponding to the component. In embodimentswhere the assembly of components 900 is stored in the memory 612, thememory 612 is a computer program product comprising a computer readablemedium comprising code, e.g., individual code for each component, forcausing at least one computer, e.g., processor 606, to implement thefunctions to which the components correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 9 control and/or configure the Wi-Fi Access Point600 or elements therein such as the processor 606, to perform thefunctions of corresponding steps illustrated and/or described in themethod of one or more of the flowcharts, signaling diagrams and/ordescribed with respect to any of the Figures. Thus the assembly ofcomponents 900 includes various components that perform functions ofcorresponding one or more described and/or illustrated steps of anexemplary method.

Assembly of components 900 includes a control routines component 902, amessage generator component 904, a message processing component 906, acommunications component 908, a determinator component 910, a MAC layerconversion component 912, channel quality test component 914, switchmode of operation component 916, and a storage component 918.

The control routines component 902 is configured to control operation ofthe Wi-Fi Access Point. The message generator component 904 isconfigured to generate messages for transmission to a CPE device anduser equipment devices. The message processing component 906 processesreceived messages and takes actions based on the processed messages. Thecommunications component 908 is configured to handle communicationsbetween the Wi-Fi Access Point and other devices, e.g., CPE device anduser equipment devices. The determinator component 910 makesdeterminations for the Wi-Fi Access Point including what mode ofoperation to be in, e.g., Non-MAC coordination mode of operation or MACcoordination mode of operation, and a determination of which packets aMAC conversion layer operation is to be performed. The MAC layerconversion component 912 also referred to as a MAC converter component912 performs MAC layer conversion on packets, e.g., packets designatedor marked for MAC layer conversion. In some embodiments, the MAC layerconversion for a 5G packet to Wi-Fi packet includes encapsulating the 5GPDPCP Oct 1 Oct 2 and Oct 3 in a MAC PDU of a Wi-Fi frame as shown inFIG. 11. When the MAC layer conversion is not performed, only the 5GPDCP PDU (data payload 1026) is included in the WI-FI MAC PDU, i.e., Oct1 1094 (1014) and Oct 2 1096 (1024) are not included in the MAC PDU1046. The channel quality test component 914 performs communicationschannel, e.g., Wi-Fi channels/connections, quality and signalingcondition tests. The switch mode of operation component 916 performsoperations to switch modes of operations when commands are received toswitch operating modes for example when a command or message is receivedfrom the wireless base station instructing the Wi-Fi Access Point toswitch to a MAC coordination mode of operation or switch to a Non-MACcoordination mode of operation. The storage component 918 is responsiblefor the storage and retrieval of data and information in the memory ofthe Wi-Fi Access Point.

FIG. 10 is a drawing of an exemplary assembly of components 1000 whichmay be included in an exemplary CPE device, e.g., exemplary CPE device300 of FIG. 3, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Thecomponents in the assembly of components 1000 can, and in someembodiments are, implemented fully in hardware within a processor, e.g.,processor 306, e.g., as individual circuits. The components in theassembly of components 1000 can, and in some embodiments are,implemented fully in hardware within the assembly of hardware components308, e.g., as individual circuits corresponding to the differentcomponents. In other embodiments some of the components are implemented,e.g., as circuits, within processor 306 with other components beingimplemented, e.g., as circuits within assembly of components 308,external to and coupled to the processor 306. As should be appreciatedthe level of integration of components on the processor and/or with somecomponents being external to the processor may be one of design choice.Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe components may be implemented in software and stored in the memory312 of the CPE device 300, with the components controlling operation ofCPE device 300 to implement the functions corresponding to thecomponents when the components are executed by a processor e.g.,processor 306. In some such embodiments, the assembly of components 1000is included in the memory 312 as assembly of software components 314. Instill other embodiments, various components in assembly of components1000 are implemented as a combination of hardware and software, e.g.,with another circuit external to the processor providing input to theprocessor which then under software control operates to perform aportion of a component's function.

When implemented in software the components include code, which whenexecuted by a processor, e.g., processor 306, configure the processor toimplement the function corresponding to the component. In embodimentswhere the assembly of components 1000 is stored in the memory 312, thememory 312 is a computer program product comprising a computer readablemedium comprising code, e.g., individual code for each component, forcausing at least one computer, e.g., processor 306, to implement thefunctions to which the components correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 10 control and/or configure the CPE device 300 orelements therein such as the processor 306, to perform the functions ofcorresponding steps illustrated and/or described in the method of one ormore of the flowcharts, signaling diagrams and/or described with respectto any of the Figures. Thus the assembly of components 1000 includesvarious components that perform functions of corresponding one or moredescribed and/or illustrated steps of an exemplary method.

Assembly of components 1000 includes a control routines component 1902,a communications component 1904, message generator component 1906, amessage processing component 1908, a connection establishment component1910, a determination component 1912, a monitoring component 1914, aWi-Fi AP overload condition detection component 1916, a router component1918, a storage component 1920, and a switch mode of operation component1922.

The control routines component 1902 controls the operation of the CPEdevice. The communications component 1904 performs operations forhandling communications with other devices including generation,transmission, receiving, and processing messages, establishingconnections, signal processing for different communications protocols.The message generator component 1906 generates messages, e.g., Wi-Fi APoverload condition message, MAC coordination mode message, request forWi-Fi AP information message, acknowledgement messages. In someembodiments, the message generator component 1906 is a sub-component ofcommunications component 1904. The message processing component 1908processes received messages and performs operations in response toreceived messages.

The connection establishment component 1910 handles establishment andtermination of communications connections, e.g., device to devicecommunications connections between the wireless base station and the CPEdevice and the CPE device and the Wi-Fi Access Points. In someembodiments, the connection establishment component 1910 is asub-component of communications component 1904.

The determination component 1912 makes various determinations for theCPE device including determining when a Wi-Fi Access Point OverloadCondition exists or doesn't exist, when to switch from operating inNon-MAC coordination mode of operation to a MAC coordination mode ofoperation and when to switch from operating in a MAC coordination modeof operation to a Non-MAC coordination mode of operation. The monitoringcomponent 1914 monitors for various conditions e.g., conditionsindicative of an Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition or linkcongestion condition such as a downlink buffer overflow condition or acondition in which a number of packets in excess of a threshold numberof packets are in a downlink buffer for a period of time. The monitoringcomponent 1914 also monitors for conditions which indicate an overloadcondition no longer exists. The Wi-Fi Access Point overload detectioncomponent 1916 detects or determines when an overload condition existsfor a Wi-Fi Access Point to which the CPE device is connected. Therouter component 1918 routes received messages to destination devices orto the next hop on the path to the destination. The storage component1920 is responsible for the management of the storage and retrieval ofdata and information in the memory of the CPE device. The switch mode ofoperation component 1922 switches the CPE device between modes ofoperation in response to various conditions for example from a Non-MACcoordination mode of operation to a MAC coordination mode of operationwhen a MAC coordination mode of operation message or command is receivedfrom the wireless base station to which the CPE device is attached orregistered.

FIG. 2, which comprises the combination of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F,2G, and 2H illustrates an exemplary method 2000. FIG. 2A illustrates thesteps of the first part of an exemplary method 2000 in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B illustrates the stepsof the second part of an exemplary method 2000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2C illustrates the steps ofthe third part of an exemplary method 2000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2D illustrates the steps ofthe fourth part of an exemplary method 2000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2E illustrates the steps ofthe fifth part of an exemplary method 2000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2F illustrates the steps ofthe sixth part of an exemplary method 2000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2G illustrates the steps ofthe seventh part of an exemplary method 2000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2H illustrates the steps ofthe eighth part of an exemplary method 2000 in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

For explanatory purposes the exemplary method 2000 will be explained inconnection with the exemplary communications system 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 although it should be understand that the method may beimplemented using other systems and other system configurations thenthose illustrated in FIG. 1. While it will be readily understood thatadditional steps and signaling are performed in connection withcommunicating information, messages, and packets between devices, themethod 2000 focuses on and discusses the steps and signaling forunderstanding the invention.

The method 2000 shown in FIG. 2 will now be discussed in detail. Themethod starts in start step 2002 shown on FIG. 2A with the devices insystem 100 being initialized and becoming operational. Operationproceeds from step 2002 to step 2004.

In step 2004, a wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102 of system 100,registers with a spectrum access system, e.g., SAS 1 110, and obtainsfrequency spectrum in 3.5 GHz bandwidth to use for communicating withdevices in a first wireless protocol format, e.g., a 5G wirelessprotocol format, CBRS wireless protocol packet format, or a cellularwireless protocol format. Operation proceeds from step 2004 to step2006.

In step 2006, a consumer premise equipment (CPE) device, e.g., CPE 1 112of system 100, located at customer premises (e.g., customer premises 1114) establishes a wireless connection also referred to as a wirelesschannel or path with the wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102, usinga first wireless protocol (e.g., a 5G wireless protocol, CBRS wirelessprotocol, or a cellular wireless protocol). The wireless connectionestablished between the wireless base station and the CPE device beingin the 3.5 GHz wireless frequency band allocated for CBRS networks inthe exemplary system 100. The CPE device establishes this connectionbetween the CPE device and the wireless base station for, among things,use in providing Radio Frequency (RF) backhaul. Operation proceeds fromstep 2006 to step 2008.

In step 2008, one or more Wi-Fi Access Points (Wi-Fi APs) or Wi-Fi basestations (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122, Wi-Fi AP 2 124, . . . , Wi-Fi AP N 126)located at the customer premises establish a communications channel withthe CPE device (112) via wired connections (e.g., links 121, 123, . . ., 125). In some embodiments, the communications channels establishedbetween the one or more Wi-Fi APs and the CPE device are coupledtogether or connect via wired or optical cable connections. Step 2008 insome embodiments includes one or more sub-steps 2010 and 2012. Insub-step 2010, a first Wi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi Access Point 1122) establishes a first communications channel over a first wiredconnection (e.g., link 121) with the CPE device (e.g., CPE device 1112). In sub-step 2012, a second Wi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AccessPoint 2 124) establishes a second communications channel over a secondwired connection (e.g., link 123) with the CPE device (e.g., CPE device1 112). Operation proceeds from step 2008 to step 2014.

In step 2014, one or more and in some embodiments a plurality of userdevices located at the customer premises establish a Wi-Fi connection toone or more of the Wi-Fi Access Points located at the customer premises.In some embodiments, the step 2014 includes one or more sub-steps 2016,2018, and 2020. In sub-step 2016, a first user equipment device (e.g.,UE 1 116 of system 100), establishes a Wi-Fi connection with the firstWi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122) via wireless communicationslink 130. In sub-step 2018, a second user equipment device (e.g., UE 2118 of system 100), establishes a Wi-Fi connection with the first Wi-FiAccess Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122) via wireless communications link132. In sub-step 2020, a third user equipment device (e.g., UE 3 119 ofsystem 100), establishes a Wi-Fi connection with the second Wi-Fi AccessPoint (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 124) via wireless communications link 134.Operation proceeds from step 2014 to step 2022.

In step 2022, one or more of the user equipment devices at the customerpremises, e.g., one or more of the plurality of user equipment devicesUE 1, UE 2, UE 3 at customer premises 1 114, transmits a request fordata services to the Wi-Fi Access Point to which the user device isconnected using Wi-Fi wireless protocol. In some embodiments, step 2022includes one or more sub-steps 2024, 2026, and 2028.

In sub-step 2024, the first user device, e.g., UE 1 116, transmits afirst data service request, e.g., a request for streaming a first movieto the first user device, over the Wi-Fi channel or link, e.g., wirelesslink 130, to the first Wi-Fi Access Point, e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122, usingthe Wi-Fi wireless protocol.

In sub-step 2026, the second user device, e.g., UE 2 118, transmits asecond data service request, e.g., a request for streaming a secondmovie to the second user device, over the Wi-Fi channel or link, e.g.,wireless link 132, to the first Wi-Fi Access Point, e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1122, using the Wi-Fi wireless protocol.

In sub-step 2028, the third user device, e.g., UE 3 119, transmits asecond data service request, e.g., a request to establish a Voice OverInternet Protocol call, over the Wi-Fi channel or link, e.g., wirelesslink 134, to the second Wi-Fi Access Point, e.g., Wi-Fi AP 2 124, usingthe Wi-Fi wireless protocol.

Operation proceeds from step 2022 via connection node A 2030 to step2032 shown on FIG. 2B. In step 2032, each of the Wi-Fi Access Pointswhich receives a request for data services from a user equipment deviceit is servicing processes the request and forwards or transmits therequest to the CPE device over the communications channel establishedbetween the Wi-Fi Access Point that received the request and the CPEdevice. In some embodiments, step 2032 includes one or more sub-steps2034, 2036, and 2038. In sub-step 2034, the first Wi-Fi Access Point,e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122, receives the first data service request from thefirst user equipment device (e.g., UE 1 116), processes the first dataservice request and then transmits the first data service request overthe first communications channel via the first wired connection or link(e.g., link 121) to the CPE device (e.g., CPE 1 112) located at thecustomer premises (e.g., customer premises 1 114). In sub-step 2036, thefirst Wi-Fi Access Point, e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122, receives the second dataservice request from the second user equipment device (e.g., UE 2 118),processes the second data service request and then transmits the seconddata service request over the first communications channel via the firstwired connection or link (e.g., link 121) to the CPE device (e.g., CPE 1112) located at the customer premises (e.g., customer premises 1 114).In sub-step 2038, the second Wi-Fi Access Point, e.g., Wi-Fi AP 2 124,receives the third data service request from the third user equipmentdevice (e.g., UE 3 119), processes the third data service request andthen transmits the third data service request over the secondcommunications channel via the second wired connection or link (e.g.,link 123) to the CPE device (e.g., CPE 1 112) located at the customerpremises (e.g., customer premises 1 114). The receiving, processing andtransmission operations in step 2032 and sub-steps 2034, 2036 and 2038may be, and in some embodiments are, implemented as separate steps.Operation proceeds from step 2032 to step 2040.

In step 2040, the CPE device receives the data services requeststransmitted to it from the Wi-Fi Access Points it is servicing. In someembodiments, step 2040 includes one or more sub-steps 2042, 2044, and2046. In sub-step 2042, the CPE device, e.g., CPE 1 112, receives thefirst data service request from the first Wi-Fi Access Point, e.g.,Wi-Fi AP 1 122 over the first communications channel via the first wiredconnection or link, e.g., link 121, between the CPE device and the firstWi-Fi Access Point. In sub-step 2044, the CPE device, e.g., CPE 1 112,receives the second data service request from the first Wi-Fi AccessPoint, e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122 over the first communications channel viathe first wired connection or link, e.g., link 121, between the CPEdevice and the first Wi-Fi Access Point. In sub-step 2046, the CPEdevice, e.g., CPE 1 112, receives the third data service request fromthe second Wi-Fi Access Point, e.g., Wi-Fi AP 2 124 over the secondcommunications channel via the second wired connection or link, e.g.,link 123, between the CPE device and the second Wi-Fi Access Point.While only 3 user equipment devices are described as connecting to Wi-FiAccess Points and requesting data services in this exemplary methodembodiment it should be understood that typically most if not all of theuser equipment devices, end point devices and terminals at the customerpremises connect to one of the WiFi Access Points located at thecustomers premises and send requests for services, e.g., data servicesto the CPE device located at the customer premises. Operation proceedsfrom step 2046 via connection node B 2048 to step 2050 shown on FIG. 2C.

In step 2050, the CPE device converts the received data service requeststo be in a first wireless protocol format, e.g., a 5G wireless protocolformat, CBRS wireless protocol format, or a cellular wireless protocolformat and transmits the received data service requests to the wirelessbase station over the wireless communications connection or link (e.g.,link 166) established with the wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102.In some embodiments, the CPE device generates data service requests in afirst wireless protocol format from the data service requests receivedfrom Wi-Fi Access Points located at the customer premises. The CPEdevice works as a bridge, between the Wi-Fi Access Points at thecustomer premises and the wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102, whichprovides protocol conversion. Step 2050 includes one or more sub-steps2052, 2054, and 2056.

In sub-step 2052, the CPE device converts the received first dataservice request to a first wireless protocol format, e.g., a 5G wirelessprotocol format, a CBRS wireless protocol format, or a cellular protocolformat, and transmits the received first data request in the firstwireless protocol format to the wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102,over the communication connection or link e.g., wireless link 166,established with the wireless base station. In some embodiments, the CPEdevice generates a first data service request in a first wirelessprotocol format from the first data service request received from firstWi-Fi Access Point located at the customer premises and transmits thegenerated first data service request in the first wireless protocolformat to the wireless base station over the established wirelessconnection or link.

In sub-step 2054, the CPE device converts the received second dataservice request to a first wireless protocol format, e.g., a 5G wirelessprotocol format, a CBRS wireless protocol format, or a cellular protocolformat, and transmits the received second data request in the firstwireless protocol format to the wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102,over the communication connection or link e.g., wireless link 166,established with the wireless base station. In some embodiments, the CPEdevice generates a second data service request in a first wirelessprotocol format from the second data service request received from thefirst Wi-Fi Access Point located at the customer premises and transmitsthe generated second data service request in the first wireless protocolformat to the wireless base station over the established wirelessconnection or link.

In sub-step 2056, the CPE device converts the received third dataservice request to a first wireless protocol format, e.g., a 5G wirelessprotocol format, a CBRS wireless protocol format, or a cellular protocolformat, and transmits the received third data request in the firstwireless protocol format to the wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102,over the communication connection or link e.g., wireless link 166,established with the wireless base station. In some embodiments, the CPEdevice generates a third data service request in a first wirelessprotocol format from the third data service request received from secondWi-Fi Access Point located at the customer premises and transmits thegenerated third data service request in the first wireless protocolformat to the wireless base station over the established wirelessconnection or link.

In some embodiments, the operations of receiving the data requests,converting the data requests to the first wireless format or generatingdata requests in the first wireless format based on the received datarequests, and transmitting the data requests in the first wirelessformat to the wireless base station are implemented as separate steps.Operation proceeds from step 2050 to step 2058.

In step 2058, the wireless base station, e.g., CSBD 1 102, receives dataservice requests from user equipment devices located at the customerpremises, e.g., customer premises 1 114, from the CPE device, e.g., CPE1 112, over the communication connection/channel/link, e.g., link 166,established between the wireless base station, e.g, CBSD 1 102, and theCPE device, e.g., CPE 1 112. The data service requests being in a firstwireless protocol format in accordance with the first wireless protocol,e.g., 5G wireless protocol, a CBRS wireless protocol, or a cellularwireless protocol being used for the wireless connection, e.g., link166. Step 2058 in some embodiments includes one or more sub-steps 2060,2062, and 2064.

In sub-step 2060, the wireless base station receives the first dataservice request from the first user equipment device via the CPE deviceover the wireless communications connection or link established betweenthe CPE device and the wireless base station, e.g., link 166. The firstdata service request being in the first wireless protocol format inaccordance with the first wireless protocol being utilized forcommunications between the CPE device and the wireless base station.

In sub-step 2062, the wireless base station receives the second dataservice request from the second user equipment device via the CPE deviceover the wireless communications connection or link established betweenthe CPE device and the wireless base station, e.g., link 166. The seconddata service request being in the first wireless protocol format inaccordance with the first wireless protocol being utilized forcommunications between the CPE device and the wireless base station.

In sub-step 2064, the wireless base station receives the third dataservice request from the third user equipment device via the CPE deviceover the wireless communications connection or link established betweenthe CPE device and the wireless base station, e.g., link 166. The thirddata service request being in the first wireless protocol format inaccordance with the first wireless protocol being utilized forcommunications between the CPE device and the wireless base station.

Operation proceeds from step 2058 via connection node C 2066 to step2068 shown on FIG. 2D. In step 2068, the wireless base station, e.g.,CBSD 1 102, transmits data to the user equipment devices from which itreceived a data service request in response to the received data servicerequests. The data being transmitted in the first wireless protocolformat over the wireless connection, channel or link, e.g., wirelesscommunications link 166, established between the CPE device, e.g., CPE 1112, and the wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102. The data may be,and typically is, communicated to the wireless base station from a dataservice provider located in a network coupled to the CBRS network, e.g.,the Internet 190, in response to the data service requests beingforwarded to the data service provider. The data for each user equipmentdevice being transmitted in the first wireless protocol format over thewireless connection established between the wireless base station andthe CPE device and being received at the CPE device. The CPE devicecommunicating the received data to the Wi-Fi Access Point servicing theUE device to which the data is sent over a link, e.g., a wired linkconnecting the Wi-Fi Access Point to the CPE device. The data beingreceived at the Wi-Fi Access Point. The Wi-Fi Access Point convertingthe data into a Wi-Fi format and transmitting it to the user equipmentdevice over a Wi-Fi communications channel or link to the UE device towhich the data was sent. The UE device receives the data in the Wi-Fiformat at the UE device's Wi-Fi interface and processes the data. Insome embodiments, each packet of data includes one or more flags whichindicate whether the packet is a packet including data in a Wi-Fi formator is a packet including a MAC packet data unit with data in the firstwireless protocol packet format (e.g., 5G PDCP packet format) asexplained in detail below and in connection with FIGS. 11 and 12. Inthis case the flag or flags would indicate that the data is in Wi-Fidata format and belongs to a packet stream that is being sent via asingle path (Wi-Fi only path). The operations of sending, receiving,generating and converting while described in a single step may beperformed as separate steps at each of the devices which is performingthe operation. In some embodiments, step 2068 includes one or moresub-steps 2070, 2072, and 2074.

In sub-step 2070, the wireless base station transmits a first set ofdata packets to the first user equipment device, e.g., UE 1 116, inresponse to the first data service request it received from the firstuser equipment device. The first set of data packets being transmittedto the CPE device for delivery to the first user equipment device in thefirst wireless protocol format over the wireless connection or link(e.g., link 166) established between the CPE device and wireless basestation. The first set of data packets belonging to a packet streamwhose packets are sent over a single path to the user equipment device.The packets being received at the CPE device, e.g, CPE 1 112, in thefirst wireless format and being communicated by the CPE device to theWi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122) servicing the user equipmentdevice (e.g., UE 1 116) to which the first set of data packets are beingsent. The packets being communicated over the communications link (e.g.,link 121) connecting the CPE device (e.g., CPE 1 112) and Wi-Fi AccessPoint (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122). The packets being received at the Wi-FiAccess Point. The Wi-Fi Access Point converts the packets into Wi-Fipackets or generates Wi-Fi packets based on the received packets andtransmits the converted or generated Wi-Fi packets to the first userequipment (e.g., UE 1 116) in Wi-Fi format over the Wi-Fi channel orlink (e.g., link 130) connecting the Wi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP1 122) to the first user equipment device (e.g., UE 1 116). The firstuser equipment device, e.g., UE 1 116 receives the packets of the firstset of packets at its Wi-Fi interface. The first user equipment devicechecks whether the packet is marked as containing data in Wi-Fi dataformat and if so processes the data otherwise sends over a link (e.g., awire or trace) the information in the Wi-Fi MAC data packet unit toanother wireless interface (e.g., an interface handling data in thefirst wireless format such as a 5G interface if the first wirelessformat is a 5G format). In this example, the packets of the first set ofpackets are marked as containing a MAC packet data unit containing datain the Wi-Fi data format and the Wi-Fi interface of the first userequipment device processes the received data.

In sub-step 2072, the wireless base station transmits a second set ofdata packets to the second user equipment device, e.g., UE 2 118, inresponse to the second data service request it received from the seconduser equipment device. The second set of data packets being transmittedto the CPE device for delivery to the second user equipment device(e.g., UE 2 118) in the first wireless protocol format over the wirelessconnection or link, e.g., link 166, established between the CPE deviceand wireless base station. The second set of data packets belonging to apacket stream whose packets are sent over a single path to the userequipment device. The packets being received at the CPE device, e.g, CPE1 112, in the first wireless format and being communicated by the CPEdevice to the Wi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122) servicing thesecond user equipment device (e.g., UE 2 118) to which the second set ofdata packets are being sent. The packets being communicated over thecommunications link (e.g., link 121) connecting the CPE device (e.g.,CPE 1 112) and Wi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122). The packetsbeing received at the Wi-Fi Access Point. The Wi-Fi Access Pointconverts the packets into Wi-Fi packets or generates Wi-Fi packets basedon the received packets and transmits the converted or generated Wi-Fipackets to the second user equipment (e.g., UE 2 118) in Wi-Fi formatover the Wi-Fi channel or link (e.g., link 132) connecting the Wi-FiAccess Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 122) to the second user equipment device(e.g., UE 2 118). The second user equipment device (e.g., UE 2 118)receives each of the packets at its Wi-Fi interface. The second userequipment device checks whether the packet is marked as containing datain Wi-Fi data format and if so processes the data otherwise sends over alink (e.g., a wire or trace) the information in the Wi-Fi MAC datapacket unit to another wireless interface at the user equipment device(e.g., an interface handling data in the first wireless format such as a5G interface if the first wireless format is a 5G wireless format). Inthis example, each of the packets of the second set of packets aremarked as containing a MAC packet data unit containing data in the Wi-Fidata format and the Wi-Fi interface of the second user equipment deviceprocesses the received data.

In sub-step 2074, the wireless base station transmits a third set ofdata packets to the third user equipment device, e.g., UE 1 119, inresponse to the third data service request it received from the thirduser equipment device. The third set of data packets being transmittedto the CPE device for delivery to the third user equipment device (e.g.,UE 3 119) in the first wireless protocol format over the wirelessconnection or link, e.g., link 166, established between the CPE deviceand wireless base station. The third set of data packets belonging to apacket stream whose packets are sent over a single path to the userequipment device. The packets being received at the CPE device, e.g, CPE1 112, in the first wireless format and being communicated by the CPEdevice to the Wi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 2 124) servicing thethird user equipment device (e.g., UE 3 119) to which the third set ofdata packets are being sent. The packets being communicated over thecommunications link (e.g., link 123) connecting the CPE device (e.g.,CPE 1 112) and Wi-Fi Access Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 2 124). The packetsbeing received at the Wi-Fi Access Point. The Wi-Fi Access Pointconverts the packets into Wi-Fi packets or generates Wi-Fi packets basedon the received packets and transmits the converted or generated Wi-Fipackets to the third user equipment (e.g., UE 3 119) in Wi-Fi formatover the Wi-Fi channel or link (e.g., link 134) connecting the Wi-FiAccess Point (e.g., Wi-Fi AP 1 124) to the third user equipment device(e.g., UE 3 119). The third user equipment device (e.g., UE 3 119)receives each of the packets in the third set of packets at its Wi-Fiinterface. The third user equipment device checks whether the packet ismarked as containing data in Wi-Fi data format and if so processes thedata otherwise sends over a link (e.g., a wire or trace) the informationin the Wi-Fi MAC data packet unit to another wireless interface at theuser equipment device (e.g., an interface handling data in the firstwireless format such as a 5G interface if the first wireless format is a5G wireless format). In this example, the packets of the third set ofpackets are marked as containing a MAC packet data unit containing datain the Wi-Fi data format and the Wi-Fi interface of the third userequipment device processes the received data. Operation proceeds fromstep 2068 via connection node D 2076 to step 2130 shown on FIG. 2E.

In step 2130, the CPE device monitors for downlink congestion in each ofthe links between the CPE device and the one or more Wi-Fi Access Pointsto which it is connected. Step 2130 in some embodiments includes one ormore sub-steps 2132 and 2134. In sub-step 2132, the CPE device monitorseach of the links connecting a Wi-Fi Access Point to the CPE device formore than a first threshold number of expected data packets in thebuffer for the Wi-Fi Access Point for a predetermined period of time. Insub-step 2134, the CPE device monitors each of the downlink buffers foreach of the links connecting a Wi-Fi Access Point to the CPE device fora buffer overflow condition. The down link buffers being buffers in theCPE device, memory or registers of the CPE device. In some embodiments,each communications link (e.g., link 121, 123, . . . , 125) between theCPE device and a Wi-Fi Access Point has its own downlink buffer.Operation proceeds from step 2130 to step 2136.

In step 2136, when the CPE device (e.g., CPE 1 112) detects congestionin one or more of the links between the CPE device and the one or moreWi-Fi Access Points to which the CPE device is connected, e.g., via adownlink buffer overflow condition or more than a first threshold numberof expected data packets being in the downlink buffer for apredetermined period of time, the CPE device: (i) generates andcommunicates an Access Point (AP) Data Overload message to the wirelessbase station (e.g., CBSD 1 102) over the wireless communications link(e.g., link 166) connecting the CPE device and the wireless base stationin the first wireless protocol format; (ii) requests Wi-Fi Access Pointsto which the CPE device is connected provide information including APidentification information (e.g., IDs, Medium Access Control (MAC)addresses, Hardware addresses), and identification of user equipmentdevices to which the Wi-Fi Access Point is providing services; (iii)communicates the the Wi-Fi Access Point information to the wireless basestation. Operation proceeds from step 2136 to step 2138.

In step 2138, in response to receiving the AP data overload message, thewireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102, generates a “MAC coordinationmessage”. In some embodiments, the Wi-Fi Access Point informationincluding the Wi-Fi Access Point identification information is includedin the AP data overload message. In some embodiments, the Wi-Fi AccessPoint information is sent in a separate message from the “AP dataoverload message” in which case it is received and processed as aseparate message at the wireless base station in a separate operationfrom the receipt of and processing of the AP data overload messageoperations. In some embodiments, the MAC coordination message isgenerated based on Wi-Fi Access Point information. Operation proceedsfrom step 2138 to step 2140.

In step 2140, the wireless base station, e.g., CBSD 1 102, transmits thegenerated “MAC Coordination Message” to the CPE device in the firstwireless protocol format. Operation proceeds from step 2140 to step2142.

In step 2142, the CPE device forwards or transmits the “MAC CoordinationMessage” to the Wi-Fi Access Points to which it is connected (e.g.,Wi-Fi AP 1 122, Wi-Fi AP 2 124, . . . , Wi-Fi AP N 126 in order to startcoordination between the wireless base station, the CPE device and Wi-FiAccess Points regarding dual path packet stream delivery to userequipment devices which requires MAC packet layer conversion for datapackets which are communicated to a user end device via a Wi-Fi AccessPoint. Operation proceeds from step 2142 to step 2144.

In step 2144, the Wi-Fi Access Points in response to receiving the MACCoordination Message switch from operating in a non-MAC coordinationmode of operation to operating in a MAC coordination mode of operation.In the MAC coordination mode of operation the Wi-Fi Access Points use aMAC converter layer on top of the MAC layer of a received packetdestined for a user equipment device to encode the packet which is inthe first wireless protocol format into a Wi-Fi protocol format. Diagram1100 of FIG. 11 illustrates the process of an exemplary data packet witha 5G MAC packet format having its MAC layer converted from 5G MAC layerpacket format to Wi-Fi MAC layer format. The 5G Packet Data ConvergenceProtocol (PDCP) packet format 1090 includes three Octets 1094, 1096 and1098 corresponding to the 1014, 1024 and 1026 of the 5G PDCP packet 1002illustrated in diagram 1100. The third Octet 1098 shows the PDCP PacketData Unit (PDU) 1026. In non-MAC coordination mode of operation the 5GPDCP PDU data 1026 is placed in the MAC Packet Data Unit (PDU) 1046 ofthe Wi-Fi Packet Frame 1126. In the MAC coordination mode of operationall three octets 1094, 1096 and 1098 of the 5G PDCP packet are includedin the MAC Packet Data Unit (MAC PDU) 1046 part of the Wi-Fi PacketFrame 1126. The Wi-Fi Access Point encapsulates the 5G PDCP packet intothe Wi-Fi MAC PDU of the Wi-Fi frame. In some embodiments, the datapackets communicated from the wireless base station are marked toindicate whether the data packet is to have the MAC layer conversionperformed on the packet by the Wi-Fi Access Point. FIG. 12 shows fieldsof a message or packet 2500 which include a packet ID field 2502, firstwireless protocol packet flag field 2504, e.g., 5G packet flag which canhave a value of 0 or 1, a Wi-Fi packet flag 2506 which can have a valueof 0 or 1, a Wi-Fi Access Point ID 2508 and User Equipment IMSI 2510.When the 5G packet flag=1, Wi-Fi packet flag=0, the packet is a 5G onlypacket. This is a packet sent from a wireless base station directly tothe user equipment device over a wireless connection between thewireless base station and the user equipment device using the firstwireless protocol which in this example is 5G wireless protocol. Whenthe 5G packet flag=0, Wi-Fi packet flag=1, the packet is a Wi-Fi onlypacket which is sent from the wireless base station to the userequipment device via the CPE device, the wired connection between theCPE device and the Wi-Fi Access Point and over the Wi-Fi wirelessconnection to the user equipment device. When the 5G packet flag=1,Wi-Fi packet flag=1, this is a 5G over Wi-Fi packet in which the packetis sent from the wireless base station to the CPE device in the firstwireless protocol format which in this case is 5G wireless protocolformat and then sent over the wired connection to the Wi-Fi Access Pointhaving the Wi-Fi AP ID 2508. At the Wi-Fi Access Point the MAC layerconversion operation is performed by the Wi-Fi Access Point and the 5GPDCP (e.g., 1002) is encapsulated in the Wi-Fi MAC-PDU and then sentover the Wi-Fi communication link to the user equipment device havingthe IMSI 2510. When the Wi-Fi interface (e.g., Wi-Fi chipset) of theuser equipment with the IMSI 2510 receives the Wi-Fi packet and decodesit, it determines that the Wi-Fi MAC-PDU includes the 5G PDCP (e.g.,1002) and forwards it to the 5G interface of the user equipment deviceover a wire or trace. The 5G interface of the user equipment devicedecodes the 5G PDCP (e.g., 1002) and uses the packet ID 2502 or asequence number in the 5G PDCP to properly sequence or order the packetwith the other packets received for the packet stream to which thepacket belongs. In some embodiments the packet ID may include both theidentification of the packet stream to which the packet belongs as wellas the sequence number of the packet. Note only packets with the 5Gpacket flag set to 1 and Wi-Fi flag set to 1 have the MAC conversionlayer operation performed on them by the Wi-Fi Access Point. While FIG.12 illustrates the use of both a 5G packet flag and a Wi-Fi packet flag,in some embodiments a single packet MAC layer converter packet flag isutilized. When the MAC layer packet flag is set the Wi-Fi Access Pointperforms a MAC layer conversion and when the MAC layer packet flag isnot set the Wi-Fi Access Point does not perform a MAC layer conversion.While the 5G wireless protocol has been used in the example of FIGS. 11and 12 other wireless protocols can, and in some embodiments are, usedfor example CBRS wireless protocol and cellular protocol. Packet DataConvergence Protocol is specified by 3GPP in TS 25.323 for UMTS, TS36.323 for LTE and TS 38.323 for 5G New Radio (NR). The PDCP is locatedin the Radio Protocol Stack in the UMTS/LTE/5G Air interface on top ofthe RLC layer. The user equipment device in most embodiments uses thefirst wireless format type (5G packet flag) and the WiFi packet flag todetermine how to process the packet. In some embodiments, the userequipment device will implement different buffers for packets based onthe packet flag markings such that packets from Wi-Fi only packetstreams, 5G only packet streams and packets streams from dual paths willeach have separate buffers. In some embodiments, the dual buffer packetstreams will be larger as the timing of receipt of the packets will notbe as close together as in non-dual mode packets streams and theallowance time before a request for a re-transmission of a packet thatwas not received will be greater. In some embodiments, the request forthe retransmission of packets from a packet stream being sent via dualpaths that are not received at the user equipment device, is made by theuser equipment device 5G interface and not the Wi-Fi interface.

Returning now to step 2144, once the Wi-Fi Access Points have placedthem in MAC coordination mode, operation proceeds from step 2144 to step2146.

In step 2146, the wireless base station determines which packets aretransmitted to user equipment devices through which Wi-Fi Access Pointsconnected to the CPE device at the customer premises based on the Wi-FiAccess Point information provided by the CPE device to the wireless basestation. Operation proceeds from step 2146 to step 2148 shown on FIG. 2Fvia connection node E 2147.

In step 2148, the wireless base station determines which user devices atthe customer premises, e.g., customer premises 1 114, are directlyconnected to the wireless base station via alternative wirelessconnections/links (e.g., 5G wireless connection, CBRS wirelessconnection, or cellular wireless connection) using the first wirelessprotocol. In the example system 100, user equipment device 1 116 isconnected via wireless communications link 190 to the wireless basestation 102, user equipment device 2 118 is connected via wirelesscommunications link 191 to the wireless base station 102, user equipmentdevice 3 119 is connected via wireless communications link 192 to thewireless base station 102, user equipment device M 120 is connected viawireless communications link 193 to the wireless base station 102. Thewireless base station in the exemplary embodiment is using a firstwireless protocol, e.g., the 5G wireless protocol, to communicate withthe CPE 1 112, UE 1 116, UE 2 118, UE 3 119 and UE M 120 over thecommunications links 166, 190, 191, 192, and 193 respectively. In someembodiments step 2148 includes sub-step 2150.

In sub-step 2150, when a user equipment device directly connects orattaches to the wireless base station, e.g., CSBD 1 102, using the firstwireless protocol, the wireless base station determines whether thereare packets being sent to the user equipment device via the CPE devicebased on matching the user equipment device's International SubscriberMobile Identity (IMSI) to the user equipment's MAC ID. Operationproceeds from step 2148 to step 2152.

In step 2152, the wireless base station on receiving confirmation thatthe CPE device and Wi-Fi Access Points have entered into MACCoordination mode of operation in response to receiving the MACCoordination Mode message from the wireless base station, switches froma non-MAC Coordination Mode of operation to a MAC Coordination Mode ofoperation, said switching from a Non-MAC Coordination Mode of operationto a MAC Coordination Mode of operation including: (i) maintaining thecurrent flow of downlink data packets, e.g., Internet Protocol packets,through the current transmission path including the CPE device, Wi-FiAccess Points, Wi-Fi wireless connections to the user equipment devices;(ii) when a user equipment device request for additional data that is ofa different traffic type or traffic types with different Quality ofService (QoS) is received via the CPE device from a user equipmentdevice whose downlink data is determined to be traversing a congestedlink between the CPE device and the Wi-Fi Access Point supporting theuser equipment device making the request and it is determined that thealternative wireless connection between the wireless base station andthe user equipment device making the request for additional data hassufficient capacity to support the transmission of the additional datarequested, the wireless base station transmits the additional trafficdata in response to the request for additional data over the alternativewireless connection or network path established between the userequipment device making the request and wireless base station using thefirst wireless protocol (e.g., 5G wireless protocol, CBRS wirelessprotocol or cellular wireless protocol); (iii) when a user equipmentdevice request for additional data that is of a different traffic typeor traffic types with different Quality of Service (QoS) is received viathe CPE device from a user equipment device whose downlink data isdetermined to be traversing a congested link between the CPE device andthe Wi-Fi Access Point supporting the user equipment device making therequest and the alternative wireless connection between the wirelessbase station and the user equipment device making the request isdetermined not to have sufficient capacity to support the additionaldata requested, the wireless base station transmits the additional datato the requesting user equipment device using data transmissioncoordination, data transmission coordination including transmitting someof the additional traffic data packets in response to the request foradditional data over the alternative wireless network path or connectionestablished between the user equipment device making the request and thewireless base station using the first wireless protocol format andtransmitting the rest of the packets of the additional data requestedover the path including the CPE device and Wi-Fi Access Point to theuser equipment device, data packets in the additional traffic flow ofadditional data being marked to indicate packets which are sent throughthe alternative wireless network connection, e.g., 5G connection, andwhich packets are sent over the path including the CPE device and Wi-FiAccess Point to the user equipment device as previously discussed inconnection with FIG. 12. Examples of different traffic types includebest effort data traffic, high definition video data traffic, normalvideo data traffic, high definition voice traffic, multiplayer gamingdata traffic, virtual reality data traffic, live video streaming datatraffic and live music streaming data traffic. Operation proceeds fromstep 2152 via connection node F 2153 to optional step 2154 shown on FIG.2G.

In optional step 2154, the wireless base station determines which Wi-FiAccess Points connected to the CPE device provide the best channelconditions for the user equipment devices to which the wireless basestation is connected, e.g., via probes based on Wi-Fi channel qualityestimation, e.g., in accordance with the Wi-Fi 802.11 protocol. Forexample, in system 100 the wireless base station 102 is connected to theUE 1 116, UE 2 118, UE 3 119, and UE M 120 via wireless communicationslinks 190, 191, 192 and 193 respectively. The wireless base station cansend a command to each of these user equipment devices and request thatthey perform a probe to determine Wi-Fi channel quality and report backthe results to the wireless base station. Operation proceeds fromoptional step 2154 to optional step 2156.

In optional step 2156, the wireless base station transmits instructionsto one or more user equipment devices (e.g., UE 1 116, UE 2 118, UE 3119, UE M 120) connected to the Wi-Fi Access Points (e.g., WiFi AP 1122, WiFi AP 2 124, WiFi AP N 126) at the customer premises (e.g.,customer premises 1 114) to drop there current Wi-Fi Access Pointconnection and establish a new Wi-Fi Access Point connection with aWi-Fi Access Point that will provide a better channel condition (e.g., aWi-Fi Access Point that does not have a congested link between the CPEdevice and the Wi-Fi Access Point. For example in connection with system100, the wireless base station 102 may determine that the link 121 iscongested while the link 123 is not congested and may further determinethat UE 2 118 is able to attach to WiFi AP 2 based on the Wi-Fi channelquality probes. Upon making these determinations the wireless basestation sends a command to the UE 2 118 to drop the Wi-Fi connection 132to Wi-Fi AP 1 122 and establish a connection with WiFi AP 2 124 therebyreducing the downlink congestion on the link 121 as the downlink trafficfor UE 2 118 will now traverse link 123 instead of link 121. Similarlythe other UE devices at the first customer premise may, and in someembodiments are, commanded to change the WiFi Access Points to whichthey are connected therein the wireless base station is able to managethe traffic routing at the customer premises to reduce trafficcongestion and optimize traffic routing at the customer premises.Operation proceeds from optional step 2156 to step 2158. In thoseembodiments which do not implement optional steps 2154 and 2156operation proceeds directly from step 2152 to step 2158.

In step 2158, when the additional data traffic flow or session iscompleted to the user equipment device that requested the additionaldata, the wireless base station determines with respect to the userequipment device whether to: (i) drop the Wi-Fi connection for apre-determined period of time to relieve the CPE device to Wi-Fi AccessPoint downlink congestion and transition all downlink data for the userequipment device through the alternative wireless path, (ii) continue indual path mode of operation (using alternative wireless connection andWi-Fi connection path with MAC coordination), or (iii) continue with theCPE device Wi-Fi connection and drop the alternative connection based onthe determined quality of the alternative path signaling conditions. Insome embodiments, the step 2158 includes one or more sub-steps 2160,2162, and 2164.

In sub-step 2160, when the quality of the alternative path (e.g., 5Gwireless connection, CBRS wireless connection, or cellular wirelessconnection) downlink signaling conditions between the wireless basestation and the user equipment device is very good, e.g., the userequipment device can receive good downlink data packet throughput, thenthe wireless base station will run a test to check the uplink signalquality and if the uplink signal quality is also very good the wirelessbase station will instruct the user equipment device to drop the Wi-Ficonnection for a predetermined amount of time to relieve the CPE-Wi-FiAccess Point link congestion transitioning any downlink traffic anduplink traffic onto the alternative wireless connection. Whether thedownlink signaling conditions on the alternative path are very good isdetermined by determining if the downlink signaling conditions meet orexceed a downlink threshold. Whether the uplink signaling conditions onthe alternative path are very good is determined by determining if theuplink signaling conditions on the alternative path meet or exceed anuplink threshold.

In sub-step 2162, when the signaling conditions between the wirelessbase station and the user equipment device are average or do not meet anaverage threshold value, then dual path mode of operation using thealternative wireless connection and the Wi-Fi transmission via Wi-FiAccess Point path will continue wherein the Wi-Fi Access Point performsthe MAC layer conversion operation on packets transmitted from thewireless base station to the user equipment device via the Wi-Fi AccessPoint.

In sub-step 2164, when the signaling conditions between the wirelessbase station and the user equipment device are experiencing frequentfluctuations, e.g, because the SAS is changing power levels or there isfrequency interference, then dual path mode of operation will beterminated and the downlink data will be sent from the wireless basestation to the user equipment device via the Wi-Fi Access point path.Operation proceeds from step 2158 to step 2166 shown on FIG. 2H viaconnection node G 2165.

In step 2166, the customer premises equipment device, e.g., CPE 1 112,continues to monitor the downlink congestion on the links connecting thecustomer premises equipment device and Wi-Fi Access Points and when thecustomer premises equipment device determines that the congestion hasbeen cleared for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., no overflow ofthe link buffers or the number of packets in the link buffers fallsbelow a threshold value), the customer premises equipment devicegenerates a message indicating that the Wi-Fi Access Point Overloadcondition no longer exists at the customer premises. The customerpremises equipment device then transmits the generated message to thewireless base station. In some embodiments, the operations of monitoringthe downlink congestion, determining the overload condition no longerexists, generating the message indicating the Wi-Fi Access Pointoverload condition no longer exists and the transmission of the messageto the wireless base station are separate steps. Operation proceeds fromstep 2166 to step 2168.

In step 2168, the wireless base station receives the message indicatingthat the Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition no longer exists at thecustomer premises. Operation proceeds from step 2168 to step 2170.

In step 2170, the wireless base station in response to receiving themessage indicating that the Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition nolonger exists at the customer premises generates a message to thecustomer premises equipment device and Wi-Fi Access Points at thecustomer premises to switch from operating in the MAC coordination modeof operation to the Non-MAC coordination mode of operation whichincludes no longer performing the MAC layer conversion on packets asdual path mode operation is not performed in Non-MAC coordination modeof operation. Operation proceeds from step 2170 to step 2172.

In step 2172, the wireless base station transmits the generated messageto switch from operating in the MAC coordination mode of operation tothe Non-MAC coordination mode of operation to the customer premisesequipment device. Operation proceeds from step 2172 to step 2174.

In step 2174, the customer premises equipment device receives themessage to switch from operating in the MAC coordination mode ofoperation to the Non-MAC coordination mode of operation andforwards/communicates the message to the Wi-Fi Access Points to which itis connected at the customer premises. Operation proceeds from step 2174to step 2176.

In step 2176, the customer premises equipment device and the Wi-FiAccess Points send an acknowledgement, e.g., an acknowledgement message,to the wireless base station that they have switched to the Non-MACcoordination mode of operation. Operation proceeds from step 2176 tostep 2178.

In step 2178, the wireless base station on receiving the acknowledgementfrom the customer premises equipment device and Wi-Fi Access Pointsswitches from operating in the MAC coordination mode of operation to theNon-MAC coordination mode of operation thereby ceasing sending packetsof a packet stream to the user equipment devices at the customerpremises via dual paths. Thus no packets sent to the user equipmentdevices at the customer premises are marked for MAC layer conversation.Operation proceeds with the wireless base station providing dataservices to the user equipment devices via the CPE device and Wi-FiAccess Points. Operation proceeds from step 2178 via connection node D2076 to step 2130 where the CPE device continues to monitor forcongestion at the customer premises equipment devices and the method2000 proceeds as previously described.

Typically, regardless of the mode of operation if the alternative pathto the user equipment device is dropped the user equipment device willalways default to attaching to a Wi-Fi Access Point and receiving dataservices over the Wi-Fi Access Point. In this way, even if there iscongestion the user equipment device will still receive some level ofservice.

The method 2000 provides the technological solution of how to providewireless data services, e.g., broadband services, to devices located ata customer premises while minimizing and overcoming congestion problemsat the customer premises. The various embodiments described inconnection with method 2000 provide new and novel methods forefficiently and effectively identifying, managing, reducing and/oreliminating congestion, e.g., link congestion, at a customer premises sothat data services can be provided to subscribers and/or user equipmentdevices located at the customer premises via wireless connections.

In some embodiments, the wireless base station selectively determineswhich Wi-Fi Access Points to command to go into MAC coordination mode ofoperation based on which Wi-Fi Access Points are being affected by theWi-Fi Access Point overload condition. For example, Wi-Fi Access Pointsexperiencing downlink congestion are placed in MAC coordination mode ofoperation in which dual path mode of operation is used to send packetsof a packet stream to user equipment devices being serviced by the Wi-FiAccess Point corresponding to the overload conditions while Wi-Fi AccessPoints which are not experiencing an overload condition remain in theNon-MAC coordination mode of operation.

Various features of the inventions will now be described in connectionwith FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

In FIG. 13 another exemplary communications system 1300 illustratinganother embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The communicationssystem 1300 includes a wireless base station, e.g., CBSD, 1302, a CPEdevice 1306, a WI-FI Access Point 1310, three user equipment devices UE9 1312, UE 10 1314, and UE 11 1316 coupled together via a plurality ofcommunications links 1304, 1308, 1320, 1322, 1324. The wirelesscommunications link 1304 couples or connects the wireless base station1302 to the CPE device 1306. The communications link 1308 is a cable orwire that couples or connects the CPE device 1306 to the Wi-Fi AccessPoint 1310. The communications links 1320, 1322, and 1324 are wirelessWi-Fi communications links or connections which couple or connect the UE9 1312, UE 10 1314, and UE 11 1316 respectively to the Wi-Fi AccessPoint 1310. The wireless communications link 1304 is a 5G wirelessconnection which means its packets are sent using a 5G wirelesscommunications protocol. The CPE device 1306, Wi-Fi Access Point 1310and user equipment devices UE 9 1312, UE 10 1314, and UE 11 1316 arelocated at a customer premises for example a residential house. Thewireless base station 1302 is located outside the customer premises. Insome embodiments, the communications system 1300 is part of a CBRSnetwork with the wireless base station being a CBSD device.

In system 1300 a single customer premises is shown with a single Wi-FiAccess Point which is servicing three user equipment devices. This hasbeen done for the sake of simplicity in explaining the invention and aspreviously explained in connection with FIG. 1 additional wireless basestations, customer premises, Wi-Fi Access Points, and user equipmentdevices may be utilized in connection with various embodiments of theinvention.

The wireless base station 1302 is implemented in accordance withwireless base station 400 illustrated in FIG. 4. The CPE device 1306 isimplemented in accordance with the CPE device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3.The user equipment devices UE 9, UE 10 and UE 11 are implemented inaccordance with the user equipment device 500 illustrates in FIG. 5. TheWi-Fi Access Point 1310 is implemented in accordance with the Wi-FiAccess Point 600 illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 illustrates the communications system 1300 operating in non-MACcoordination mode of operation when there is not a Wi-Fi overloadcondition in existence at the customer premises, i.e., the link 1308 isnot congested causing a downlink buffer overflow condition or acondition in which the downlink buffer contains a number of packetswhich exceeds a buffer threshold which indicates there is congestion onthe link 1308.

In FIG. 13 wireless base station 1302 provides data services to userequipment device UE 9 1312 by sending all packets of a packet stream tothe UE 9 1312 via the 5G wireless link 1304 to the CPE device 1306 whichsends or routes the packets to the Wi-Fi Access Point 1310 over the wireor cable link 1308. The Wi-Fi Access Point converts the packet to aWi-Fi packet and sends it to the UE 9 1312 over the Wi-Fi connection1320 in a Wi-Fi format. The user equipment device UE 9 receives theWi-Fi packets at its Wi-Fi interface which processes the Wi-Fi packet.The wireless base station includes an indication in the packets it sendsin this mode of operation as being Wi-Fi only packets which indicatesthe packets are part of a packet stream whose packets are only beingcommunicated to the UE 9 1312 via a Wi-Fi connection.

In FIG. 13 wireless base station 1302 similarly provides data servicesto user equipment device UE 10 1314 by sending all packets of a packetstream to the UE 10 1314 via the 5G wireless link 1304 to the CPE device1306 which sends or routes the packets to the Wi-Fi Access Point 1310over the wire or cable link 1308. The Wi-Fi Access Point converts thepacket to a Wi-Fi packet and sends it to the UE 10 1314 over the Wi-Ficonnection 1322 in a Wi-Fi format. The user equipment device UE 10receives the Wi-Fi packets at its Wi-Fi interface which processes theWi-Fi packets. The wireless base station includes an indication in thepackets it sends in this mode of operation as being Wi-Fi only packetswhich indicates the packets are part of a packet stream whose packetsare only being communicated to the UE 10 1314 via a Wi-Fi connection.

In FIG. 13 wireless base station 1302 similarly provides data servicesto user equipment device UE 11 1316 by sending all packets of a packetstream to the UE 11 1316 via the 5G wireless link 1304 to the CPE device1306 which sends or routes the packets to the Wi-Fi Access Point 1310over the wire or cable link 1308. The Wi-Fi Access Point converts thepacket to a Wi-Fi packet and sends it to the UE 11 1316 over the Wi-Ficonnection 1324 in a Wi-Fi format. The user equipment device UE 11receives the Wi-Fi packets at its Wi-Fi interface which processes theWi-Fi packets. The wireless base station includes an indication in thepackets it sends in this mode of operation as being Wi-Fi only packetswhich indicates the packets are part of a packet stream whose packetsare only being communicated to the UE 11 1316 via a Wi-Fi connection.

The link 1308 between the CPE device and the Wi-Fi Access Point islimited in its capacity to carry data to all three Wi-Fi enabled userequipment devices UE 9, UE 10, and UE 11. Therefore even though theseuser equipment devices request data in downlink, the link 1308 in somesituation creates a bottleneck, i.e., congestion on the link, limitingthe amount of data that can be sent to the user equipment devices UE 9,UE 10, UE 11 which are requesting the data. To compensate for thisbottleneck condition, the user equipment devices which are also 5Gwireless protocol enabled can receive data through a separate 5Gwireless connection between the user equipment devices and the wirelessbase station 1302. To achieve this the system enters a MAC-coordinationmode of operation in which packets of a packet stream are sent over twopaths to the user equipment device one path being a direct 5G wirelessprotocol connection and the other being the path including the Wi-Ficonnection. With respect to the path including the Wi-Fi connection, 5Gpacket data and associated information are sent over the Wi-Ficonnection by the Wi-Fi Access Point by performing a MAC conversionlayer operation on the received packet.

FIG. 17 illustrates the signaling used to invoke MAC coordinationoperation in the system 1300. Operation begins in step 1702 when the CPEdevice 1306 detects that there is a Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition, e.g., there is a downlink buffer overflow or the number ofpackets in the downlink buffer exceeds a threshold value. In step 1702upon detection of the Wi-Fi AP overload condition, the CPE device 1306generates and sends the AP overload message 1704 to the wireless basestation 1302. Operation proceeds from step 1702 to steps 1706 and steps1708.

In step 1708, the CPE device 1306 generates message 1710 requesting theWi-Fi AP 1310 to provide details about the Wi-Fi AP 1310 includingidentification information (e.g., ID, MAC Address, Hardware Address forthe Wi-Fi AP 1310) and information, e.g., identification information,about the UEs the Wi-Fi AP is currently servicing which in this caseincludes UE 9, UE 10, and UE 11. Operation proceeds from step 1708 tostep 1712.

Returning to step 1706, in step 1706 the wireless base station 1302receives and processes the AP overload message 1704 detecting based onthe AP overload message that there is overload condition at the customerpremises, e.g., congestion on the CPE device to Wi-Fi AP link. Operationproceeds from step 1706 to step 1707. In step 1707, the wireless basestation switches from Non-MAC coordination mode of operation to MACcoordination mode of operation.

In step 1712, the Wi-Fi AP 1310 receives and processes the message 1710requesting Wi-Fi AP 1310′s information. Operation proceeds from step1712 to step 1714. In step 1714, the Wi-Fi AP 1310 generates message1716 and transmits it to the CPE device 1306. The message 1716 includesthe requested Wi-Fi AP 1310 details, e.g., identification informationand information about the user equipment devices it is servicing.Operation proceeds from step 1714 to step 1718.

In step 1718, the CPE device 1306 receives and processes the message1716. Operation proceeds from step 1718 to step 1720.

In step 1720, the CPE device 1306 generates Wi-Fi AP details message1722 and transmits it to the wireless base station 1302. The Wi-Fi APdetails message 1722 includes the information received in the message1716 from the Wi-Fi AP 1310. Operation proceeds from step 1720 to step1724.

In step 1724, the wireless base station 1302 receives and processes theWi-Fi AP details message 1722. Operation proceeds from step 1724 to step1726.

In step 1726, the wireless base station 1302 generates the MACcoordination message 1728 and transmits it to the CPE device 1306. TheMAC coordination message 1728 may include information based on the Wi-FiAP details received in Wi-Fi AP details message 1722 such as anidentification of the Wi-FI AP to be placed in MAC coordination mode ofoperation. Operation proceeds from step 1726 to step 1730.

In step 1730, the CPE device 1306 receives the MAC coordination message1728 and processes it. Operation proceeds from step 1730 to step 1732.

In step 1732, the CPE device 1306 generates MAC coordination message1734 and transmits it to the Wi-Fi AP 1310. The MAC coordination message1734 is based on the MAC coordination message 1728 received fromwireless base station 1302. Operation proceeds from step 1732 to step1736.

In step 1736, the Wi-Fi AP 1310 receives and processes the MACcoordination message 1734. Upon processing the MAC coordination message1734 and in response to the MAC coordination message, the Wi-Fi AP 1310switches from a Non-MAC coordination mode of operation to a MACcoordination mode of operation. Operation proceeds from step 1736 tostep 1737. In step 1737, the Wi-Fi AP 1310 turns on MAC layer converter.Packets received marked for MAC layer conversion (e.g., 5G flag set to 1and Wi-Fi flag set to 1 as described in connection with FIG. 12) willhave the MAC layer conversion operation performed on the packet. FIG. 11illustrates how the MAC converter of the Wi-Fi AP encapsulates the 5GPDCP 1002 of received packets into the MAC PDU of the Wi-Fi frame 1126before transmission to the user equipment device over the Wi-Fi link.Operation proceeds from step 1737 to step 1738.

In step 1738, the Wi-Fi AP 1310 generates and transmits MAC coordinationconfirmation message 1740 to the CPE device 1306. The MAC coordinationmessage confirmation indicating that the Wi-Fi AP 1310 has switched tothe MAC coordination mode of operation. Operation proceeds from step1738 to step 1742.

In step 1742, the CPE device 1306 receives and processes the MACcoordination confirmation message 1740. Operation proceeds from step1742 to step 1744.

In step 1744, the CPE device generates and transmits the MACcoordination confirmation message 1746 to wireless base station 1302.The MAC coordination confirmation message 1746 being based on the MACcoordination confirmation message 1740 and indicating that Wi-Fi AP 1310has switched to MAC coordination mode of operation. Operation proceedsfrom step 1744 to step 1748.

In step 1748, the wireless base station receives and processes the MACcoordination confirmation message 1746. Operation proceeds from step1748 to step 1750.

In step 1750, the wireless base station begins sending a first set ofpackets from a first data stream through the 5G wireless connection tothe UE 9 1312 and a second set of packets from the first data streamthrough the Wi-Fi path. The first and second set of packets beingdifferent packets. The packets being sent through the Wi-Fi path includean indication or mark included in the packet by the wireless basestation indicating the packets are 5G over Wi-Fi packets which the Wi-FiAP 1310 is to perform a MAC layer conversion operation on in which the5G PCDP packet information is placed in the MAC PDU of the Wi-Fi frameas shown in diagram 1100 of FIG. 11. The wireless base station sendingpackets to the UE 9 through two different paths.

FIG. 15 illustrates communications system 1300′ which is system 1300with the addition of the wireless communication link 1326 which is a 5Gwireless connection established between the wireless base station 1302and UE 9 1312. Once the system enters the MAC coordination mode ofoperation, the next data service request received by the wireless basestation from the UE 9 1312 that is of a different traffic type, thewireless base station will transmit the data for the packets over the 5Gconnection 1326 to relieve congestion at the customer premises by offloading download data traffic to the UE 9 1312 device through the 5Gconnection instead of through the 1304 link, CPE device 1306, 1308 link,1310 Wi-Fi Access Point and 1320 Wi-Fi connection path. If however, thewireless base station 1302 determines there is insufficient capacity onthe 5G 1326 connection/link for the data services requested by the UE 91312 then the wireless base station 1302 will begin transmitting packetsbelonging to the same data stream over the two established paths betweenthe wireless base station and the user equipment device UE 9 1312. Afirst set of packets of the first packet stream will be sent over the 5Gconnection 1326 (first path) and received by the 5G wireless interfaceof the user equipment device 1312. A second set of packets of the firstpacket stream will be sent over the 5G connection link 1304, CPE device1306, link 1308, Wi-Fi AP 1310 and Wi-Fi connection 1320 (second path)and received by the Wi-Fi interface of the user equipment device 1312.The second set of packets will include an indication that the packetsare 5G over Wi-Fi packets with both the 5G flag and Wi-Fi flag set inthe packet as previously described in connection with diagram 2500 shownin FIG. 12. The Wi-Fi Access Point 1310 will perform the MAC conversionlayer operation on the packets included in the second set of packetswherein the 5G PDCP packet information 1002 is included in the MAC PDUof the Wi-Fi packet frame. The packets will also include the Wi-Fi AP IDof the Wi-FI AP 1310, packet ID or sequence number and the UE IMSI forUE 9 1312. The first set of packets and the second set of packets aredifferent packets belonging to the same packet stream. The Wi-Fiinterface of the UE 9 1312 upon receiving the second set of packets willdetermine that the packets MAC PDU include the 5G PDCP packetinformation and will communicate the 5G PDCP packet information to theUE 9′s 5G interface which will decode the information and using thepacket ID place the packet data in the proper order with the data of theother packets received from both the 5G connection and over the Wi-Ficonnection.

Diagram 1400 of FIG. 14 illustrates a 5G protocol stack 1402, Wi-Fiprotocol stack 1404 and a user equipment device 1406. The diagram 1400further illustrates how 5G formatted packet information 1410 is sent ina 5G format over the 5G connection 1412 (first path) to the userequipment device 1406 and how the 5G formatted packet information 1410is sent in 5G packet format over connection 1414 and then through a MAClayer converter and then to user equipment device via a Wi-Fi connection1416 (second path).

Table 1600 of FIG. 16 illustrates Wi-Fi channel conditions on the Wi-Ficonnections or links 1320, 1322, and 1324 which connect WiFi AP 1310 tothe UE 9 1312, UE 10 1314, and UE 11 1316 respectively. Diagram 1650shows the connections between the Wi-Fi AP 1310 and the user equipmentdevices 1312, 1314 and 1316. Table 1600 includes columns 1602, 1604 and1606 and rows 1608, 1610, 1612, and 1614. The first row 1608 includeslabels identifying the information contained in the each of the columns.Column 1602 identifies the user equipment devices connected to the Wi-FiAP 1310 (entry column 1602, row 1608). Column 1604 includes the channelcondition (entry column 1604, row 1608) of the connection between theWi-Fi AP 1310 and the UE identified in the same row. Column 1606includes the average duration of channel condition (entry column 1606,row 1608) specified in the same row. Row 1610 includes information forthe user equipment device UE 9 1312 with the channel condition beinggood and the average duration of the channel condition being 5 minutes.Row 1612 includes information for the user equipment device UE 10 1314with the channel condition being average and the average duration of thechannel condition being 1 minute. Row 1614 includes information for theuser equipment device UE 11 1316 with the channel condition being badand the average duration of the channel condition being 2 minutes. Thewireless base station when in MAC coordination mode of operation canprobe the Wi-Fi connections and use this information to manage the userequipment device connections to the Wi-Fi Access Points. When there aremultiple Wi-Fi Access Points at the customer premises, the wireless basestation can instruct a user equipment device to drop a Wi-Fi connectionto a first Wi-Fi Access Point and instead attach or connect to adifferent Wi-Fi Access Point. In the system 100 of FIG. 1 for example,the wireless base station based on the Wi-Fi connection informationobtained about the UE to Wi-Fi Access Points can re-direct a userequipment device, e.g., UE 2 118 to drop its Wi-Fi connection 132 toWi-Fi AP 1 122 and instead connect to Wi-Fi AP 2 124 which may have anuncongested link 123 to the CPE device thereby offloading the downlinkdata being sent to UE 2 via link 121 to link 123.

In some embodiments, the information in the table 1600 illustrated inFIG. 16 is stored in the memory of the wireless base station.

Various exemplary embodiments illustrating different features of thepresent invention will now be discussed.

List of Exemplary Numbered Method Embodiments

Method Embodiment 1. A communications method comprising: monitoring, bya wireless base station, for a first condition at a first customerpremises; switching, in response to detecting by a wireless base stationthe first condition exists at the first customer premises, from a firstmode of operation to a second mode of operation with respect toproviding data services to a user equipment device located at the firstcustomer premises; receiving, after switching into said second mode ofoperation, at the wireless base station a first data service requestfrom a first user equipment device; transmitting, in response to saidfirst data service request, one or more data packets of a first datapacket stream to the first user equipment device via a firsttransmission path and transmitting one or more additional data packetsof the first packet stream to the first user equipment device via asecond transmission path.

Method Embodiment 2. The communications method of method embodiment 1,wherein said first condition exists when a communications link in thefirst transmission path at the first customer premises is determined tobe congested.

Method Embodiment 3. The communications method of method embodiment 1,wherein said detecting by a wireless base station the first conditionexists at the first customer premises includes receiving a first messagefrom a customer premise equipment device at the first customer premisesindicating that there is a Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition.

Method Embodiment 3A. The communications method of method embodiment 1further comprising: monitoring, by the customer premise equipmentdevice, for a Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition, said monitoring fora Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition including monitoring one or moreWi-Fi Access Point downlink buffers for a buffer overflow condition or acondition in which the number of data packets in one or more Wi-FiAccess Point downlink buffers exceeds a first threshold for apredetermined amount of time; detecting, by the customer premisesequipment device, that a Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition existswith respect to a Wi-Fi Access Point when said customer premiseequipment device determines that the Wi-Fi Access Point downlink buffercorresponding to the Wi-Fi Access Point is experiencing a bufferoverflow condition or is experiencing a condition in which the number ofdata packets in the Wi-Fi Access Point downlink buffer corresponding tothe Wi-Fi Access Point exceeds the first threshold for the predeterminedamount of time; and in response to said Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition being detected: (i) generating, by the customer premisesequipment device, the first message indicating that there is a Wi-FiAccess Point overload condition; and (ii) communicating said Wi-FiAccess Point overload condition message to said wireless base station.

Method Embodiment 3B. The method of method embodiment 3A furthercomprising: when said Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition is detected:requesting, by the customer premises equipment device, from each Wi-FiAccess Point connected to the customer premises equipment deviceinformation about the Wi-Fi Access Point including Wi-Fi Access Pointidentification information (e.g., Identifier, MAC address, and/orHardware Identifier) and information about user equipment devicesattached to the Wi-Fi Access Point; receiving, by the customer premisesequipment device, from the Wi-Fi Access Points connected to the customerpremises equipment device the requested information; communicating thereceived information about the Wi-Fi Access Points to the wireless basestation.

Method Embodiment 4. The communications method of method embodiment 1,wherein the first transmission path includes: a first wirelesscommunications link (e.g., 5G, CBRS or cellular wireless communicationlink) between the wireless base station and a customer premisesequipment device located at the first customers premises; a first wiredcommunications link between the customer premises equipment device and afirst Wi-Fi Access Point device; and a first Wi-Fi wirelesscommunications link between the first Wi-Fi Access Point device and thefirst user equipment device.

Method Embodiment 5. The communications method of method embodiment 4,wherein the second transmission path is a second wireless communicationslink (e.g., 5G, CBRS, or cellular wireless communication link) betweenthe wireless base station and the first user equipment device.

Method Embodiment 5A. The communications method of method embodiment 5,wherein said first wireless communications link between said wirelessbase station and customer premises equipment device and second wirelesscommunications link between said wireless base station and the firstuser equipment device utilize bandwidth in the 3.5 GHz frequencyspectrum.

Method Embodiment 5B. The communications method of method embodiment 5A,wherein said wireless base station is a CSBD of a CBRS network; whereinsaid bandwidth frequency spectrum utilized by said first wirelesscommunications link and said second wireless communications link areassigned to the wireless base station by a Spectrum Access System.

Method Embodiment 6. The communications method of method embodiment 5,wherein the first user equipment device is a multi-mode communicationsdevice that is enabled to receive and transmit messages using two ormore separate wireless communications protocols simultaneously.

Method Embodiment 6A. The communications method of method embodiment 6,wherein the first user equipment device is a dual-mode communicationsdevice that is enabled to communicate with other devices using a firstwireless communications protocol and a second wireless communicationsprotocol simultaneously.

Method Embodiment 6B. The communications method of method embodiment 1,wherein said first wireless communications protocol is a Wi-Ficommunications protocol; and wherein said second wireless communicationsprotocol is one of the following protocols: 5G wireless communicationsprotocol, a CBRS wireless communications protocol and a cellularwireless communications protocol.

Method Embodiment 7. The communications method of method embodiment 1further comprising: generating, by the wireless base station, the datapackets of the first packet stream, said generating the data packets ofthe first packet stream including marking the packets of the firstpacket stream that will be communicated to the first user equipmentdevice via the first transmission path to include an indication that thepackets are part of a packet stream being communicated over two separatetransmission paths.

Method Embodiment 7A. The communications method of method embodiment 7,wherein marking the packets of the first packet stream to include anindication that the packets are part of a packet stream beingcommunicated over two separate transmission paths includes includinginformation in the packets of the first packet stream which indicatesthat the packet is part of a packet being communicated over two separatetransmission paths.

Method Embodiment 7B. The communications method of method embodiment 7Afurther comprising: when a Wi-Fi Access Point receives a data packetincluding an indication that the packet is part of a packet stream beingcommunicated over two separate transmission paths, said Wi-Fi AccessPoint will generate a Wi-Fi data packet based on the received datapacket, said generated Wi-Fi data packet including Packet DataConvergence Protocol (PDCP) Packet with payload information (e.g., 5GPDCP packet) of the received data packet in the Medium Access Control(MAC) Packet Data Unit (PDU) part of the Wi-Fi packet frame.

Method Embodiment 7C. The communications method of method embodiment 7Bfurther comprising: when a Wi-Fi interface (e.g., Wi-Fi chipset) of auser equipment device receives a Wi-Fi data packet including anindication that the packet is part of a packet stream being communicatedover two separate transmission paths, the Wi-Fi interface will extractthe MAC PDU and communicate it to a second interface (e.g., 5G chipset)which will decode the MAC PDU information in accordance with theprotocol format of the second path (e.g., 5G decoder).

Method Embodiment 8. The communications method of method embodiment 1further comprising: receiving, at a first interface of the first userequipment device, the one or more packets of the first packet streamtransmitted to the first user equipment device via the firsttransmission path; receiving, at a second interface of the first userequipment device, the one or more packets of the first packet streamtransmitted to the first user equipment device via the secondtransmission path; determining, by the first user equipment device, thatthe packets received via the first transmission path and the packetsreceived via the second transmission path are part of the first packetstream; and reordering the packets received via the first interface andthe second interface belonging to the first packet stream based onpacket sequence numbers included in the packets.

Method Embodiment 8A. The method of method embodiment 8, wherein thefirst interface is a Wi-Fi wireless interface and the second interfaceis a 5G wireless interface; wherein said determining, by the first userequipment device, that the packets received via the first transmissionpath and the packets received via the second transmission path are partof the first packet stream includes identifying by the Wi-Fi wirelessinterface an indication included in the received Wi-Fi packets that theWi-Fi packets are part of a packet stream being communicated over twoseparate transmission paths; and when the Wi-Fi interface determines apacket is part of a packet stream being communicated over two separatetransmission paths communicating the MAC PDU of the packet to the secondinterface for processing (e.g., via a port on Wi-Fi chipset over a traceor wire to the 5G chipset).

Method Embodiment 9. The communications method of method embodiment 1,wherein when operating in said first mode of operation said wirelessbase station communicates all packets belonging to a packet stream overa single transmission path to a user equipment device (e.g., all packetsof packet stream communicated via CBSD to CPE to WI-FI Access Point toUE transmission path or all packets of packet stream communicated viaCBSD to UE transmission path).

Method Embodiment 10. The communications method of method embodiment 1,wherein when operating in said second mode of operation said wirelessbase station communicates a command to one or more Wi-Fi Access Pointsat the customer premises to perform a MAC layer conversion on receivedpackets marked for MAC layer conversion before communicating the packetsover a Wi-Fi channel to the user equipment device.

Method Embodiment 10A. The communications method of method embodiment10, wherein said MAC layer conversion includes converting a packet's MACpacket layer in a first wireless format (e.g., 5G wireless format, CBRSwireless format, cellular wireless format) to a WiFi MAC layer.

Method Embodiment 10B. The communications method of method embodiment10, wherein said MAC layer conversion includes encapsulating Packet DataConvergence Protocol (PDCP) Packet with payload information (e.g., 5GPDCP packet) of the received data packet in the Medium Access Control(MAC) Packet Data Unit (PDU) part of the Wi-Fi packet frame.

List of Exemplary Numbered System Embodiments

System Embodiment 1. A communications system comprising: a wireless basestation including: memory; and a processor included in the wireless basestation which controls the operation of the wireless base station toperform the following operations: monitor for a first condition at afirst customer premises; switch, in response to detecting the firstcondition exists at the first customer premises, from a first mode ofoperation to a second mode of operation with respect to providing dataservices to a user equipment device located at the first customerpremises; receive, after switching into said second mode of operation,at the wireless base station a first data service request from a firstuser equipment device; transmit, in response to said first data servicerequest, one or more data packets of a first data packet stream to thefirst user equipment device via a first transmission path andtransmitting one or more additional data packets of the first packetstream to the first user equipment device via a second transmissionpath.

System Embodiment 2. The communications system of system embodiment 1,wherein said first condition exists when a communications link in thefirst transmission path at the first customer premises is determined tobe congested.

System Embodiment 3. The communications system of system embodiment 1,wherein said detecting by a wireless base station the first conditionexists at the first customer premises includes receiving a first messagefrom a customer premise equipment device at the first customer premisesindicating that there is a Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition.

System Embodiment 3A. The communications system of system embodiment 1further comprising: a customer premise equipment device including: amemory; and a processor included in the customer premises equipmentdevice that controls the customer premise equipment device to: monitorfor a Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition, said monitor for a Wi-FiAccess Point overload condition including monitoring one or more Wi-FiAccess Point downlink buffers for a buffer overflow condition or acondition in which the number of data packets in one or more Wi-FiAccess Point downlink buffers exceeds a first threshold for apredetermined amount of time; detect that a Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition exists with respect to a Wi-Fi Access Point when said customerpremise equipment device determines that the Wi-Fi Access Point downlinkbuffer corresponding to the Wi-Fi Access Point is experiencing a bufferoverflow condition or is experiencing a condition in which the number ofdata packets in the Wi-Fi Access Point downlink buffer corresponding tothe Wi-Fi Access Point exceeds the first threshold for the predeterminedamount of time; and in response to said Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition being detected: (i) generating a first message indicating thatthere is a Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition; and (ii) communicatingsaid Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition message to the wireless basestation.

System Embodiment 3B. The communications system of system embodiment 3A,wherein said processor included in the customer premises equipmentdevice further controls the customer premise equipment device to performthe following operations when said Wi-Fi Access Point overload conditionis detected: request from each Wi-Fi Access Point connected to thecustomer premises equipment device information about the Wi-Fi AccessPoint including Wi-Fi Access Point identification information (e.g.,Identifier, MAC address, and/or Hardware Identifier) and informationabout user equipment devices attached to the Wi-Fi Access Point;receive, by the customer premises equipment device, from the Wi-FiAccess Points connected to the customer premises equipment device therequested information; communicate the received information about theWi-Fi Access Points to the wireless base station.

System Embodiment 4. The communications system of system embodiment 1,wherein the first transmission path includes: a first wirelesscommunications link (e.g., 5G, CBRS or cellular wireless communicationlink) between the wireless base station and a customer premisesequipment device located at the first customers premises; a first wiredcommunications link between the customer premises equipment device and afirst Wi-Fi Access Point device; and a first Wi-Fi wirelesscommunications link between the first Wi-Fi Access Point device and thefirst user equipment device.

System Embodiment 5. The communications system of system embodiment 4,wherein the second transmission path is a second wireless communicationslink (e.g., 5G, CBRS, or cellular wireless communication link) betweenthe wireless base station and the first user equipment device.

System Embodiment 5A. The communications system of system embodiment 5,wherein said first wireless communications link between said wirelessbase station and customer premises equipment device and second wirelesscommunications link between said wireless base station and the firstuser equipment device utilize bandwidth in the 3.5 GHz frequencyspectrum.

System Embodiment 5B. The communications system of system embodiment 5A,wherein said wireless base station is a CSBD of a CBRS network; whereinsaid bandwidth frequency spectrum utilized by said first wirelesscommunications link and said second wireless communications link areassigned to the wireless base station by a Spectrum Access System.

System Embodiment 6. The communications system of system embodiment 5,wherein the first user equipment device is a multi-mode communicationsdevice that is enabled to receive and transmit messages using two ormore separate wireless communications protocols simultaneously.

System Embodiment 6A. The communications system of system embodiment 6,wherein the first user equipment device is a dual-mode communicationsdevice that is enabled to communicate with other devices using a firstwireless communications protocol and a second wireless communicationsprotocol simultaneously.

System Embodiment 6B. The communications system of system embodiment 1,wherein said first wireless communications protocol is a Wi-Ficommunications protocol; and wherein said second wireless communicationsprotocol is one of the following protocols: 5G wireless communicationsprotocol, a CBRS wireless communications protocol and a cellularwireless communications protocol.

System Embodiment 7. The communications system of system embodiment 1wherein said processor included in the wireless base station furthercontrols the wireless base station to perform the operation of:generating, by the wireless base station, the data packets of the firstpacket stream, said generating the data packets of the first packetstream including marking the packets of the first packet stream thatwill be communicated to the first user equipment device via the firsttransmission path to include an indication that the packets are part ofa packet stream being communicated over two separate transmission paths.

System Embodiment 7A. The communications system of system embodiment 7,wherein marking the packets of the first packet stream to include anindication that the packets are part of a packet stream beingcommunicated over two separate transmission paths includes includinginformation in the packets of the first packet stream which indicatesthat the packet is part of a packet being communicated over two separatetransmission paths.

System Embodiment 7B. The communications system of system embodiment 7A,wherein when a Wi-Fi Access Point receives a data packet including anindication that the packet is part of a packet stream being communicatedover two separate transmission paths, said Wi-Fi Access Point willgenerate a Wi-Fi data packet based on the received data packet, saidgenerated Wi-Fi data packet including Packet Data Convergence Protocol(PDCP) packet with payload (PDU) information (e.g., 5G PDCP packet) ofthe received data packet in the Medium Access Control (MAC) Packet DataUnit (PDU) part of the Wi-Fi packet frame.

System Embodiment 7C. The communications system of system embodiment 7B,wherein when a Wi-Fi interface (e.g., Wi-Fi chipset) of a user equipmentdevice receives a Wi-Fi data packet including an indication that thepacket is part of a packet stream being communicated over two separatetransmission paths, the Wi-Fi interface will extract the MAC PDU andcommunicate it to a second interface (e.g., 5G chipset) which willdecode the MAC PDU information in accordance with the protocol format ofthe second path (e.g., 5G decoder).

System Embodiment 8. The communications system of system embodiment 1,wherein the first user equipment device further includes: a firstinterface of the first user equipment device that receives the one ormore packets of the first packet stream transmitted to the first userequipment device via the first transmission path; a second interface ofthe first user equipment device, the one or more packets of the firstpacket stream transmitted to the first user equipment device via thesecond transmission path; a packet stream determination component thatdetermines if the packets received via the first transmission path andthe packets received via the second transmission path are part of thefirst packet stream; and a reordering component that reorders thepackets received via the first interface and the second interfacebelonging to the first packet stream based on packet sequence numbers orpacket identification numbers included in the packets.

System Embodiment 8A. The communications system of system embodiment 8,wherein the first interface of the first user equipment device is aWi-Fi wireless interface and the second interface of the first userequipment device is a 5G wireless interface; wherein said determining,by the first user equipment device, that the packets received via thefirst transmission path and the packets received via the secondtransmission path are part of the first packet stream includesidentifying by the Wi-Fi wireless interface an indication included inthe received Wi-Fi packets that the Wi-Fi packets are part of a packetstream being communicated over two separate transmission paths; and whenthe Wi-Fi interface determines a packet is part of a packet stream beingcommunicated over two separate transmission paths communicating the MACPDU of the packet to the second interface for processing (e.g., via aport on Wi-Fi chipset over a trace or wire to the 5G chipset).

System Embodiment 9. The communications system of system embodiment 1,wherein when operating in said first mode of operation said wirelessbase station communicates all packets belonging to a packet stream overa single transmission path to a user equipment device (e.g., all packetsof packet stream communicated via CBSD to CPE to WI-FI Access Point toUE transmission path or all packets of packet stream communicated viaCBSD to UE transmission path).

System Embodiment 10. The communications system of system embodiment 1,wherein when operating in said second mode of operation said wirelessbase station communicates a command to one or more Wi-Fi Access Pointsat the customer premises to perform a MAC layer conversion on receivedpackets marked for MAC layer conversion before communicating the packetsover a Wi-Fi channel to the user equipment device.

System Embodiment 10A. The communications system of system embodiment10, wherein said MAC layer conversion includes converting a packet's MACpacket layer in a first wireless format (e.g., 5G wireless format, CBRSwireless format, cellular wireless format) to a WiFi MAC layer.

System Embodiment 10B. The communications system of system embodiment10, wherein said MAC layer conversion includes encapsulating Packet DataConvergence Protocol (PDCP) Packet with packet payload information(e.g., 5G PDCP packet with payload) of the received data packet in theMedium Access Control (MAC) Packet Data Unit (PDU) part of the Wi-Fipacket frame.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., wireless base stations,user equipment devices, Wi-Fi Access Points, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRStower base stations, CBRS CPE devices, SAS devices, user devices,subscriber devices, servers, nodes and/or elements. Various embodimentsare also directed to methods, e.g., method of controlling and/oroperating wireless base stations, user equipment devices, Wi-Fi AccessPoints, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRS tower base stations, CBRS CPE devices,SAS devices, user devices, subscriber devices, servers, nodes and/orelements. Various embodiments are also directed to machine, e.g.,computer, readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., whichinclude machine readable instructions for controlling a machine toimplement one or more steps of a method. The computer readable mediumis, e.g., non-transitory computer readable medium.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses and methods disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches.Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific orderor hierarchy of steps in the processes and methods may be rearrangedwhile remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in asample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented. In some embodiments, one or more processors areused to carry out one or more steps of the each of the describedmethods.

In various embodiments each of the steps or elements of a method areimplemented using one or more processors. In some embodiments, each ofelements or steps are implemented using hardware circuitry.

In various embodiments devices, wireless base stations, user equipmentdevices, Wi-Fi Access Points, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRS tower basestations, CBRS CPE devices, SAS devices, user devices, subscriberdevices, servers, nodes and/or elements described herein are implementedusing one or more components to perform the steps corresponding to oneor more methods, for example, ranking, establishing connections, messagereception, signal processing, sending, comparing, determining and/ortransmission steps. Thus, in some embodiments various features areimplemented using components or in some embodiments logic such as forexample logic circuits. Such components may be implemented usingsoftware, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Many ofthe above described methods or method steps can be implemented usingmachine executable instructions, such as software, included in a machinereadable medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. tocontrol a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or withoutadditional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above describedmethods, e.g., in one or more devices, servers, nodes and/or elements.Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to amachine-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer readablemedium, including machine executable instructions for causing a machine,e.g., processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of thesteps of the above-described method(s). Some embodiments are directed toa device, e.g., a controller, including a processor configured toimplement one, multiple or all of the steps of one or more methods ofthe invention.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., wireless base stations, user equipment devices,Wi-Fi Access Points, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRS tower base stations, CBRSCPE devices, SAS devices, user devices, subscriber devices, servers,nodes and/or elements are configured to perform the steps of the methodsdescribed as being performed by the wireless base stations, userequipment devices, Wi-Fi Access Points, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRS towerbase stations, CBRS CPE devices, SAS devices, user devices, subscriberdevices, servers, nodes and/or elements. The configuration of theprocessor may be achieved by using one or more components, e.g.,software components, to control processor configuration and/or byincluding hardware in the processor, e.g., hardware components, toperform the recited steps and/or control processor configuration.Accordingly, some but not all embodiments are directed to a device,e.g., wireless base stations, user equipment devices, Wi-Fi AccessPoints, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRS tower base stations, CBRS CPE devices,SAS devices, user devices, subscriber devices, servers, nodes and/orelements, with a processor which includes a component corresponding toeach of the steps of the various described methods performed by thedevice in which the processor is included. In some but not allembodiments a device, e.g., wireless base stations, user equipmentdevices, Wi-Fi Access Points, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRS tower basestations, CBRS CPE devices, SAS devices, user devices, subscriberdevices, servers, nodes and/or element, includes a controllercorresponding to each of the steps of the various described methodsperformed by the device in which the processor is included. Thecomponents may be implemented using software and/or hardware.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, comprising code for causing a computer, or multiple computers,to implement various functions, steps, acts and/or operations, e.g. oneor more steps described above. Depending on the embodiment, the computerprogram product can, and sometimes does, include different code for eachstep to be performed. Thus, the computer program product may, andsometimes does, include code for each individual step of a method, e.g.,a method of controlling a wireless base stations, user equipmentdevices, Wi-Fi Access Points, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRS tower basestations, CBRS CPE devices, SAS devices, user devices, subscriberdevices, servers, nodes and/or element. The code may be in the form ofmachine, e.g., computer, executable instructions stored on acomputer-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) orother type of storage device. In addition to being directed to acomputer program product, some embodiments are directed to a processorconfigured to implement one or more of the various functions, steps,acts and/or operations of one or more methods described above.Accordingly, some embodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU,configured to implement some or all of the steps of the methodsdescribed herein. The processor may be for use in, e.g., acommunications device such as a wireless base stations, user equipmentdevices, Wi-Fi Access Points, CPE devices, CBSDs, CBRS tower basestations, CBRS CPE devices, SAS devices, user devices, subscriberdevices, servers, nodes and/or element or other device described in thepresent application.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. Numerous additional embodiments, within thescope of the present invention, will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art in view of the above description and the claims whichfollow. Such variations are to be considered within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a customer premisesequipment device comprising: establishing connections between thecustomer premises equipment device and a plurality of Wi-Fi AccessPoints, said customer premises equipment device and said plurality ofWi-Fi Access Points being located at a first customer premises;monitoring, by the customer premises equipment device, for a firstcondition at the first customer premises; transmitting instructions fromthe customer premises equipment device to one of the plurality of Wi-FiAccess Points to switch from a first mode of operation to a second modeof operation with respect to providing data services to a first userequipment device located at the first customer premises.
 2. Thecommunications method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing awireless connection between the customer premises equipment device and awireless base station.
 3. The communications method of claim 2, whereinthe customer premises equipment device is positioned on a firstcommunications path between the wireless base station and the one Wi-FiAccess Point of the plurality of Wi-Fi Access Points providing dataservices to the first user equipment device.
 4. The communicationsmethod of claim 1, wherein the first mode of operation is a non-MAClayer conversion mode of operation and the second mode of operation is aMAC layer conversion mode of operation.
 5. The communications method ofclaim 4, wherein said MAC layer conversion mode of operation includes aWi-Fi Access Point adding a MAC converter layer on top of a MAC layer toencode packets received in a first wireless protocol format into a Wi-Fiprotocol format.
 6. The communications method of claim 1, wherein thefirst condition is a Wi-Fi Access Point congestion condition.
 7. Thecommunications method of claim 6, wherein said monitoring for the Wi-FiAccess Point congestion condition includes monitoring for downlinkcongestion in each link connecting the customer premises equipmentdevice and one or more of the plurality of Wi-Fi Access Points.
 8. Thecommunications method of claim 1, wherein the first condition is a Wi-FiAccess Point overload condition.
 9. The communications method of claim8, wherein said monitoring, by the customer premises equipment device,for the Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition at the first customerpremises includes: monitoring one or more Wi-Fi Access Point downlinkbuffers for a buffer overflow condition or a condition in which thenumber of data packets in one or more Wi-Fi Access Point downlinkbuffers exceeds a first threshold value for a predetermined amount oftime.
 10. The communications method of claim 9 further comprising:detecting, by the customer premises equipment device, that a Wi-FiAccess Point overload condition exists with respect to a Wi-Fi AccessPoint when said customer premise equipment device determines that theWi-Fi Access Point downlink buffer corresponding to the Wi-Fi AccessPoint is experiencing a buffer overflow condition or is experiencing acondition in which the number of data packets in the Wi-Fi Access Pointdownlink buffer corresponding to the Wi-Fi Access Point exceeds thefirst threshold value for the predetermined amount of time; and inresponse to said Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition being detected:(i) generating, by the customer premises equipment device, the firstmessage indicating that there is a Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition; and (ii) communicating said Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition message to said wireless base station.
 11. A customer premisesequipment device comprising: memory; and a processor included in thecustomer premises equipment device which controls the customer premisesequipment device to perform the following operations: establishconnections between the customer premises equipment device and aplurality of Wi-Fi Access Points, said customer premises equipmentdevice and said plurality of Wi-Fi Access Points being located at afirst customer premises; monitor for a first condition at the firstcustomer premises; transmit instructions from the customer premisesequipment device to one of the plurality of Wi-Fi Access Points toswitch from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation withrespect to providing data services to a first user equipment devicelocated at the first customer premises.
 12. The customer premisesequipment device of claim 11, wherein the processor further controls thecustomer premises equipment device to perform the following additionaloperation: establish a wireless connection between the customer premisesequipment device and a wireless base station.
 13. The customer premisesequipment device of claim 12, wherein the customer premises equipmentdevice is positioned on a first communications path between the wirelessbase station and the one Wi-Fi Access Point of the plurality of Wi-FiAccess Points providing data services to the first user equipmentdevice.
 14. The customer premises equipment device of claim 11, whereinthe first mode of operation is a non-MAC layer conversion mode ofoperation and the second mode of operation is a MAC layer conversionmode of operation.
 15. The customer premises equipment device of claim14, wherein said MAC layer conversion mode of operation includes a Wi-FiAccess Point adding a MAC converter layer on top of a MAC layer toencode packets received in a first wireless protocol format into a Wi-Fiprotocol format.
 16. The customer premises equipment device of claim 11,wherein the first condition is a Wi-Fi Access Point congestioncondition.
 17. The customer premises equipment device of claim 16,wherein monitoring for the Wi-Fi Access Point congestion conditionincludes monitoring for downlink congestion in each link connecting thecustomer premises equipment device and one or more of the plurality ofWi-Fi Access Points.
 18. The customer premises equipment device of claim11, wherein the first condition is a Wi-Fi Access Point overloadcondition.
 19. The customer premises equipment device of claim 18,wherein said monitoring, by the customer premises equipment device, forthe Wi-Fi Access Point overload condition at the first customer premisesincludes: monitoring one or more Wi-Fi Access Point downlink buffers fora buffer overflow condition or a condition in which the number of datapackets in one or more Wi-Fi Access Point downlink buffers exceeds afirst threshold value for a predetermined amount of time.
 20. Anon-transitory computer readable medium including computer executableinstructions which when executed by a processor control a customerpremises equipment device to perform the steps of: establishingconnections between the customer premises equipment device and aplurality of Wi-Fi Access Points, said customer premises equipmentdevice and said plurality of Wi-Fi Access Points being located at afirst customer premises; monitoring, by the customer premises equipmentdevice, for a first condition at the first customer premises;transmitting instructions from the customer premises equipment device toone of the plurality of Wi-Fi Access Points to switch from a first modeof operation to a second mode of operation with respect to providingdata services to a first user equipment device located at the firstcustomer premises.